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Tungsten Corporation Plc

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FY2017 Annual Report · Tungsten Corporation Plc
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SECURE

CREATING THE WORLD’S 
MOST TRUSTED BUSINESS 
TRANSACTION NETWORK

AUTOMATE

VALUE

Tungsten Corporation plc
Annual report and financial statements 2017

INSIDE THIS REPORT

The Tungsten Network 
Our solutions 

Strategic report
Our approach 
Our frictionless market 
Chairman’s statement 
Chief Executive’s review 
Committed to our talent 
Chief Financial Officer’s review 
  Key performance indicators 
Principal risks and uncertainties  

Governance
Introduction to governance 
Board of Directors 
Leadership team 
Composition and independence  
of the Board 
Audit Committee report 
Nomination and Remuneration  
Committee report 
Directors’ remuneration report 
Directors’ report 
Statement of Directors’ responsibilities 

Financial statements
Independent auditors’ report 
Consolidated income statement 
Consolidated statement  
of comprehensive income 
Consolidated statement  
of financial position 
Consolidated statement 
of changes in equity 
Consolidated statement  
of cash flows 
Notes to the consolidated  
financial statements  
Independent auditors’ report 
Parent Company balance sheet 
Parent Company statement  
of changes in equity 
Parent Company statement  
of cash flows 
Notes to the Parent Company  
financial statements 
Shareholder information 

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18
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24

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77
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82
86

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Group revenue 

£m

Group EBITDA1 loss2 

£31.3 million 

2017

2016

2015

+21%
31.3

26.1

22.5

£11.8 million 

2017

2016

2015

11.8

18.7

£m

-27%

25.2

Statutory loss for the year2 

£m

Total cash and invoice receivables  £m

£12.5 million 

-54%

£21.8 million 

12.5

2017

2016

2015

2017

2016

2015

27.9

27.6

9.3

13.1

+135%
21.8

KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS

•  1 million invoices added to increase total invoice volumes to 

17.1 million (FY16: 16.1 million)

•  Average revenue per invoice increased from £1.61 to £1.82
•  Adjusted operating expenses3 increased by £0.7 million (2%) 
but reduced by £1.7 million (4%) on a constant currency basis 
through cost discipline, internal reorganisation and greater 
automation. A further £2.8 million reduction in adjusted 
operating expenses following the sale of Tungsten Bank
•  Tungsten Network Finance average invoice outstandings 
of £14.0 million in April 2017 (£12.2 million in April 2016)

OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

•  10 new Buyers signed; 183 total Buyers as at 30 April 2017
•  41 existing Buyers renewed contracts with weighted average 
price increases of 49%; expected to add £1 million to revenue 
in FY18

•  48,000 net new Suppliers added to bring total Suppliers 

to 251,000

•  Launched new Invoice Data Capture and purchase order 
products. Mobile application for Suppliers to view invoice 
status also released

•  Restarted Tungsten Network Finance, concluding refreshed 
financing arrangements with Insight Investment and new 
funding partnerships with Orbian and BlueVine

•  Completed initial phases of efficiency programme to set 

up Finance and Human Resources Shared Service Centre 
in Malaysia

1  EBITDA is defined as operating loss before other income, depreciation, amortisation, impairments 

and share-based payments charge

2  Restated – please refer to Note 2
3  Adjusted operating expenses defined as operating expenses from continuing operations excluding 

cost of sales and before depreciation, amortisation and share-based payments charge

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 20171

At the heart of global trade are the billions of transactions 
happening every day. There are multiple touch-points by 
the players in these goods and services supply chains 
– each of which cost time and carry the possibility of 
human error. Meanwhile, increasing compliance demands 
stem from ever more intricate regulation. In response, 
businesses and governments today are searching for 
ways to remove friction and become more agile.

It starts with a click

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements2

THE TUNGSTEN NETWORK

At Tungsten Network, we aim to revolutionise 
the payment process through the use of 
unique technology that brings Buyers and 
Suppliers closer together, maximises efficiency 
and improves cash flow management.

urity • Compliance • Automation

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Supplier receives 
payment

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TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017 
 
 
 
 
3

Certainty • Straight-through • Digital sig

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urity • Compliance • Automation

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Buyer  
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TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements 
 
 
 
 
4

OUR SOLUTIONS

Helping the global supply chain operate more efficiently and securely

Purchase Order services

Invoicing services

Before an invoice exists, Buyers and their 
Suppliers agree what is traded and on 
what terms through a purchase order. 
Tungsten Network facilitates the delivery, 
acknowledgment, variation and conversion 
of purchase orders into invoices. 

Benefits for Buyers
•  Control over purchases
•  Visibility of acceptance on orders and purchase status
•  Ability to amend 

Benefits for Suppliers
•  Speed of receipt of order
•  Ability to convert purchase order into an invoice
•  Tighter collaboration with customers

Workflow

Workflow automates accounts payable 
processes, providing an audit of purchasing 
from the point of order to payment. It optimises 
procure-to-pay to achieve business goals.

Benefits for Buyers
•  Automated three-way match
•  Straight-through processing
•  End-to-end visibility
•  Exception management

Eliminating paper from the accounts payable 
process through e-invoicing and Invoice Data 
Capture increases the efficiency and accuracy 
of accounts payable teams. This includes 
enabling the straight-through processing of 
invoices through an automated match with 
a purchase order. 

Benefits for Buyers
•  Automation of critical process
•  Reduction of fraud
•  Legal and tax compliance
•  Reduction in cost

Benefits for Suppliers
•  Confirmed invoice delivery
•  Legal and tax compliance
•  Visibility of invoice status –  

including on mobile application

•  Secure invoice archiving

Analytics

Analytics gives visibility into purchases that 
leads to better informed spending. Our analytics 
improves procurement controls, ensures 
compliance with contracts and reduces costs. 

Benefits for Buyers
•  Better buying decisions
•  Actionable insights
•  Easy to get started
•  Simple and secure
•  Customised reports

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 20175

Supply chain financing

With Early Payment, Suppliers on Tungsten 
Network decide when to be paid. Buyers can 
take advantage of dynamic discounting or 
sponsor financing programmes. 

Benefits for Buyers
•  Deepens supply chain liquidity
•  On or off balance sheet
•  Maximises working capital
•  Flexible cash management

Benefits for Suppliers
•  Easy to enrol
•  Easy to use
•  Get paid early
•  Maximises working capital

Cross-border payments

Tungsten Network has partnered leading 
payments provider Payoneer to offer cross-
border payments in local currency at 
competitive rates.

Benefits for Buyers
•  Low fees
•  Quick payments
•  Security
•  Transparency

STRATEGY IN ACTION

Expanding our capabilities

Divya Eapen 
Head of Operations & Risk, Tungsten 
Network Finance – London

We have been able to do this 
through a variety of relationships 
with influential counterparties, for 
example Insight Investment.

“A year ago, Tungsten Network Finance had 

a single financing product, with one funder. 
This product was available to only a small 
subset of the vast number of Suppliers 
on our Network. Since then, under the 
stewardship of Prabhat Vira, we have 
expanded our capabilities, and are now 
able to provide simple, technology-driven 
financing solutions to a much wider range 
of Suppliers and Buyers.

We are in a constant dialogue with our 
counterparties, brainstorming how we 
can expand our customer base, provide 
a wider financing solution to existing 
customers, and ensure a better user 
experience for our customers. Indeed, we 
are on the cusp of doubling the number of 
Suppliers that will have access to this user 
friendly, technology driven, and scalable, 
financing solution.

”

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements6

OUR APPROACH

Our vision is to be the world’s most trusted 
business transaction network.

1

2

3

4

Customers
Tungsten Network makes 
connections. Over 250,000 of 
the world’s companies and 
governments interact with each 
other over the Tungsten Network. 
We reduce friction in these 
interactions by facilitating quick, 
secure and efficient global trade.

Solutions
Tungsten Network’s solutions 
connect accounts receivable and 
accounts payable teams across 
the world. Operating from the 
centre of the procure-to-pay 
process, Tungsten Network 
provides security, speed and 
surety to ensure the smooth 
running of global trade.

Security & Compliance
Transacting across Tungsten 
Network our customers can 
eradicate fraudulent transactions. 
Operating to the highest of 
industry standards, our products 
are secure, stable and reliable, 
complying with local tax and 
legal regimes in 48 countries.

Community
Tungsten’s interoperable 
network provides multi-modal 
connectivity between our 
customers, facilitating global 
trade. Through our portal 
customers can identify, transact 
with and send data to each other.

over
250,000
customers

17.1m
transactions 
processed

76%
of FTSE 100 live on 
Tungsten Network

over
180
complex, international 
buying organisations

STRATEGY IN ACTION

Driving best practice

Ryan Enright
Client Relationship Manager – Atlanta

“At Tungsten Network, Client Relationship Managers 

(CRMs) work with our service delivery organisation 
to understand customer requirements and provide 
them with our strategic solutions. As CRMs, we pride 
ourselves in being not just service providers but 
by being business partners as well. That is, rather 
than simply providing a piece of technology or a set 
of professional services, we challenge ourselves to 
understand our customers’ businesses so we can help 
them remove friction from their processes through the 
application of digital solutions.

For example, Tungsten Network has helped one of my 
customers, Mohawk Industries, to deliver mass invoice 
digitisation over our multi-year relationship. Today, 95% 
of their total invoice volume is electronic, but we have 
not stopped there. Once we had achieved straight-
through processing of over 75% of their invoices, 
Mohawk and Tungsten started working to implement a 
new service to make 100% invoice digitisation a reality. 
Invoice Data Capture will take all residual paper invoices 
for conversion into the digital Tungsten format.

”

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017STRATEGIC REPORT7

OUR BUSINESS MODEL

Our resources and relationships

Customer led, 
experienced and 
diverse workforce

Resilient, secure 
and scalable 
digital platform

Global network 
of collaborating 
customers

Expert in global 
tax compliance

Strong partnerships

ngage 
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Our goal is to be 
the world’s most 
trusted business 
transaction network

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The value we create

Reduce AP costs 

Control and optimise 
cash flow

Improve tax  
collections

Remove friction from 
global trade

Minimise carbon 
footprint

OUR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

1

2

3

4

Focus on our core
Elevate our customer 
engagement by driving 
network benefits.

Improve operational 
performance
Use end-to-end digital 
processes to ensure that 
our people and processes 
deliver effectively.

Distinctive invoice 
financing
Leverage our Network 
and its data to deliver 
innovative financing 
products.

Expand adjacent 
services
Increase the value we 
provide to customers 
through adjacent services.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements 
 
 
 
 
8

OUR FRICTIONLESS MARKET

Friction remains in today’s borderless, interconnected world. 
As both domestic and international trade continue to grow, so 
does the opportunity to support businesses and governments 
in their goods and services transactions by removing those 
frictions through digital solutions that automate processes, 
deliver efficiencies, increase transparency and combat fraud.

Pressure on operating 
margins

The need
Businesses and governments are increasingly 
seeking digital solutions to increase efficiency 
and reduce costs. The old labour-intensive 
processes of invoice creation, delivery, 
review, validation and processing have been 
improved through the adoption of modern 
enterprise resource planning systems and 
shared service environments. These only go 
so far in reducing the cost of operations.

The solution
Tungsten Network’s products and services 
reduce the cost of sending, receiving and 
processing invoices. Lowering these costs 
frees resources for alternate uses such 
as increasing competitiveness or capital 
investment.

Security and global 
compliance

Invoice fraud

The need
Businesses and governments have to 
safeguard the security, integrity and validity 
of their data. Risks to this data increase when 
it flows between organisations and across 
international boundaries.

International rules governing supply chain 
invoicing requirements vary significantly. 
Ensuring adherence to these rules is 
critical to meeting local or regional tax 
and regulatory requirements.

The need
Attempted and actual fraud is on the rise. 
Accounts payable teams need to be diligent 
to prevent fraud. A three-way match of 
invoice, purchase order and goods received 
documentation from an approved vendor is the 
proven process for overcoming supply chain 
fraud. However, exceptions occur and manual 
mistakes are still made.

The solution
Tungsten Network’s information security is 
certified to ISO 27001 standard. It complies 
with local or regional tax and regulatory 
requirements in 48 of the most complex 
jurisdictions in the world, supported by 
PriceWaterhouseCoopers. There is no other 
invoicing solution provider that can offer 
such global coverage.

The solution
With Tungsten Network, fraudulent invoicing 
is eradicated. Buyers can set their own 
rules to achieve an automated three-way 
documentation match. No supply chain 
invoices are able to slip through the net, 
resulting in no chance of fraud.

Late payments

The need
Cash is king. Late payments starve 
businesses of the cash they need to operate 
and to grow.

The solution
Tungsten Network reduces the time to send, 
receive and process an invoice, facilitating 
timely invoice payment.

A 2016 study by the Federation of Small 
Businesses found that if late payments 
had been made on time and as promised, 
around 50,000 businesses in the UK would 
not have failed, contributing £2.5 million to 
the UK economy.

Then, if required, our customers can take 
advantage of a simple, low cost option to 
receive early payment of their invoices.

*  Federation of Small Businesses report on the effect of late payments.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017STRATEGIC REPORT9

STRATEGY IN ACTION

Casting a wider net

Abigail Myers-Antiaye 
Compliance Officer – London

“Tungsten Network is always looking to expand the 

reach of our platform, both to help our Buyer customers 
connect with more of their Suppliers, and to offer our 
services to a broader range of customers. Taking the 
lead from some of our customers’ feedback, India was 
identified as a key additional territory.

When we began the process of engaging with the 
Indian government, there was no legal framework for 
tax compliant e-invoicing in the country. To overcome 
this, Tungsten Network petitioned both the federal 
government and the governing authorities of India’s 
individual states about permitting digital signatures to 
prove the authenticity of invoices and develop a legally 
compliant solution for Buyers.

We secured the necessary legal permissions to offer 
a compliant solution for goods invoices in eight key 
strategic states for major customers on our Network, 
as well as a compliant solution for services invoices 
nationwide. With a great deal of team support, I’m proud 
to say that in March 2017 Tungsten Network became 
the first ever service provider to offer a compliant 
e-invoicing solution in India.

”

73% 

Reduction in the processing cost 
per invoice available through 
automation 

ISO 27001
ISO 3402

Tungsten is certified under 
international standards for 
information security and 
controls

£1.658bn

Average cost of fraud per SME in 
the UK per year

30% 

Of payments made to UK SMEs 
are made late

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements10

STRATEGIC REPORT

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT

Many things have changed at Tungsten 
since my appointment in 2015. The Board’s 
focus over this time has been to support the 
executive team in forming and executing a 
strategy to restore value to our shareholders 
and justify the confidence of our customers, 
our business partners and our employees. 
The results for the 2017 financial year 
demonstrate that we have made an excellent 
start in meeting these objectives: we now 
have a stable business with a strong balance 
sheet and a resolute focus on those elements 
that we believe will result in profitability.

Tungsten is a secure, growing 
business which has the 
confidence of its people, 
customers and shareholders. 
Our next milestone is to 
become profitable and 
that goal is firmly within 
our sights.

Strategy
The four strategic objectives that were set 
out in early 2016 remain the focus of the 
business. These are to:
•  elevate our customer engagement by 
realising network benefits for them; 
•  use end-to-end digital processes to 

ensure our people and processes are 
effective; 

•  use our Network and its data to provide 
distinctive financing products; and 
•  offer our customers valuable adjacent 

products and services. 

Strong progress has been made in each of 
these areas in the 2017 financial year. 

We have divided the transformation of 
Tungsten into three phases. The first 
phase, stabilisation, concluded with 
the sale of Tungsten Bank in December 
2016. This provided Tungsten with the 
financial resources necessary to execute 
its strategy. Equally important, it removed 
the cultural conflict of a highly regulated 
and expensive bank that sat within an agile 
technology business. 

Despite the sale of Tungsten Bank we retain 
significant ambitions for our supply chain 
financing activities. Indeed, with a reaffirmed 
commitment from our funding partner Insight 
Investment, new funding agreements with 
Orbian and BlueVine, and a customer relaunch 
of Tungsten Network Finance in November 
2016, we remain committed to making a 
success of this market.

The second phase, achieving profitability 
through cash generative growth, is our 
primary focus for calendar year 2017, and 
thereafter we intend to focus on the third 
phase of accelerating that profitable growth.

Investment
Tungsten has to balance the ongoing 
investment in customers, products and 
internal systems with operating a cost base 
consistent with our foreseeable revenue 
opportunity. We now have increased visibility 
and control over our expenditure and 
rigorous return based criteria are applied to 
all our investment decisions. 

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 201711

PHASES OF TUNGSTEN’S TRANSFORMATION

2018
PROFITABLE  
GROWTH

Transaction growth through 
new and current customer 
expansion. Increase in 
revenue per invoice through 
the introduction of a deeper 
range of products, including 
opportunities for inorganic 
product expansion.

Meaningful contribution 
to profits from Tungsten 
Network Finance.

Continued evolution of 
the cost base through 
execution of automation 
and efficiency programmes 
thereby releasing funds for 
further investment in sales, 
marketing and new products.

2017
ACHIEVE  
PROFITABILITY

Focus on new customer 
acquisition and new product 
sales into our existing 
customer base while 
continuing with the success of 
pricing our services to reflect 
the value that we provide. 

Continued reshaping of the 
cost base through increased 
automation and the relocation 
of resources, and developing 
an ROI based approach to 
investment.

The Board remains active in identifying 
inorganic opportunities to expand. Ensuring 
that any such opportunities will both 
accelerate our growth and add to shareholder 
value is central to our decision making.

Our people
We are a truly global operation with talented 
employees in each location where we operate. 
The changes we have made at Tungsten, 
while necessary, have been destabilising 
for some. Having now come through much 
of this, the Board and I offer all of our 
colleagues continued heartfelt thanks for 
their ongoing efforts and commitment.

I should also like to thank my fellow Board 
members for their sustained and significant 
contributions during the last year.

2016
STABILISATION

Development of a succinct, 
cohesive strategy. Included 
identifying how to take 
advantage of customer and 
market opportunities, taking 
control of and restructuring 
the operating cost base, 
relaunching Tungsten Network 
Finance and identifying 
product adjacencies.

Concluded with the sale 
of Tungsten Bank in 
December 2016.

Board change
As previously announced, Danny Truell, a 
founder of Tungsten, stepped down as a Non-
Executive Director on 24 May 2017, after the 
end of the 2017 financial year. Throughout his 
tenure Danny contributed enormously to the 
development of Tungsten and we wish him 
well for the future.

Annual General Meeting
The Company’s Annual General Meeting  
will be held at 2pm on 15 September 2017 at 
the offices of Ashurst LLP, Broadwalk House, 
5 Appold Street, London EC2A 2HA. We look 
forward to welcoming our shareholders to 
the event.

Dividend
The Company has no distributable reserves 
to declare a dividend. 

The year ahead
Tungsten is once again becoming a vibrant 
and agile technology business. Although we 
still have a lot to achieve to reach profitability 
and make it sustainable, Tungsten possesses 
the attributes needed to become the world’s 
most trusted business transaction network 
and that is our long-term goal. With our 
customers at the heart of what we do and 
talented people to take the business forward, 
we are confident of success.

Tungsten delivered on its promises in 
financial year 2017 and with hard work we 
will continue to do so in the year ahead.

Nick Parker
Non-Executive Chairman

24 July 2017

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements12

STRATEGIC REPORT

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REVIEW

Tungsten has evolved as a 
vibrant and agile technology 
business that helps accelerate 
global trade by operating a 
secure network connecting 
some of the world’s largest 
organisations to their 
supply chains.

OUR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

Our goal is to be the world’s most trusted business 
transaction network, using data intelligently to strengthen 
the global supply chain. In early 2016 we identified four 
strategic priorities to achieve this goal and this year we 
made great progress in each of them.

1

Focus on our core
Elevate our customer 
engagement by driving 
network benefits.

=  See pg 13

2

Improve operational 
performance
Use end-to-end digital processes 
to ensure that our people and 
processes deliver effectively.

=  See pg 14

3

Distinctive invoice financing
Leverage our Network and 
its data to deliver innovative 
financing products.

=  See pg 15

4

Expand adjacent services
Increase the value we 
provide to customers through 
adjacent services.

=  See pg 15

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 201713

3
.
1
3

.

9
5
2

.

5
2
2

2015

2016

2017

£31.3m 

group revenue

Under the leadership of our SVP of AP 
Automation, Kevin Wilbur, we have continued 
to make adjustments to our organisation 
to focus on new customers and extend the 
value we create with current customers. 
We have brought new talent into our sales 
organisation and invested further in our 
indirect sales channels, including PNC Bank 
and Business Process Outsourcers.

We help our Buyer customers receive the 
most value from Tungsten Network through 
increasing connections to their supply chain. 
We increased the number of net connections 
by 48,000 during the year and, at the end 
of fiscal year 2017, had 251,000 Suppliers 
using Tungsten Network for a combination 
of delivering invoices to their customers, 
tracking the status of their invoices and 
having their invoices digitised using our 
Invoice Data Capture product.

0
0
0
1
5
2

,

0
0
0
3
0
2

,

0
0
0
1
8
1

,

2015

2016

2017

251,000 

number of Suppliers

The net growth in the number of Suppliers 
presents our customers with the opportunity 
to have greater interactions over our 
Network. Through our Digital Command 
Centre, run by our Chief Marketing Officer, 
Connie O’Brien, we are investing in our 
brand to increase awareness and support 
our efforts to do more business with each 
of our Suppliers. 

Tungsten’s performance in the 2017 financial 
year demonstrates that the actions we 
have taken to transform the business are 
producing results. This gives me confidence 
to state that we have reached a turning point. 
In a year where our focus was to stabilise 
the business, we grew revenue by 21% (12% 
in constant currency terms). Importantly, we 
are fulfilling our promises to our customers, 
employees and shareholders.

I have talked previously about finding the 
balance between repair and growth. While 
we still have repair work to do, our primary 
focus is now on the growth initiatives that 
will bring our revenues in line with, and 
subsequently exceed, our operating costs 
on a sustainable basis.

We are doing this in a period of uncertainty 
in global markets. In particular, with the 
changing political landscape in our largest 
market, the USA, and the impact of the UK 
referendum to leave the European Union in 
our home market, there are destabilising 
forces that could affect the achievement 
of our goals. However, uncertainty brings 
opportunities, and our increasing customer 
numbers and growing revenues suggest 
that Tungsten is taking advantage of those 
opportunities to secure a successful future.

We have continued to reshape our business, 
putting our customers at the centre of what 
we do, while exercising requisite control over 
our operating cost base. We have successfully 
embarked upon multi-year programmes that 
we will execute with appropriate care in order 
to strengthen the trust that our customers 
place in us.

1

Focus on our core

Tungsten Network connects organisations 
around the world, processing transactions 
for them and delivering data between them. 
During the year, we processed 17.1 million 
invoice transactions, an increase of 1.0 million 
from the prior year, and many millions more 
purchase order transactions. By value the 
invoices totalled £155 billion, an increase 
of £22 billion.

.

1
6
1

1
.
7
1

.

8
4
1

17.1 million 

total invoice volume 
increase since 2016

2015

2016

2017

We ended the year with over 183 Buyer 
organisations as members of Tungsten 
Network. We welcomed 10 new members 
to the Network during the year, of which five 
are being implemented for e-invoicing, with 
the balance using our Workflow software. 
We want our Workflow software to serve 
as the gateway to wider accounts payable 
automation. Encouragingly, an increasing 
number of our Workflow customers have 
taken our Invoice Status Service product, 
meaning that their Suppliers register to 
use our portal. One of these has also taken 
our Invoice Data Capture product, which 
digitises their paper invoices. Our focus now 
is to encourage these Buyers to adopt end-
to-end digitisation and use our e-invoicing 
and enhanced purchase order solutions.

3
7
1

5
7
1

3
8
1

183 million 

total Buyers increase 
since 2016

2015

2016

2017

Our e-invoicing Buyer customers are typically 
on three-year contracts. We renewed 41 of 
these Buyer contracts during the year at 
a weighted average price lift of 49%. This 
compares with 34 contracts at 64% in the 
prior year. Our continued success in repricing 
our services reflects the relationships we 
have developed with our Buyers and their 
recognition of the value our services provide. 
We have committed to strengthening these 
relationships but will only do so in a manner 
that is mutually beneficial. As a result, two 
Buyers left the Network during the year.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements14

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REVIEW continued

2

Improve operational 
performance

.

3
5
4

.

1
0
4

8
.
0
4

£40.8m 

Adjusted operating 
expenses

1
0
2

5
5
1

1
3
1

131% 

Adjusted operating 
expenses % of revenue

Nowhere is Tungsten’s transformation better 
demonstrated than the considered approach 
taken to reshaping our operating expense 
base. To accomplish this we evaluated each 
area of our business in order to identify where 
we could increase efficiency, increase capacity 
and, where appropriate, invest in growth. 

In some areas, this process is reaching its 
conclusion, with benefits already in place. 
This includes our Finance and Human 
Resources teams, which have moved to a 
centralised shared services environment with 
improved consistency and quality of output 
and an annualised cost saving of £1 million. 
In addition, our procurement team, set up in 
late 2015, achieved £1 million of annualised 
savings in the year.

In other parts of the business, our 
transformation programmes will be 
implemented in stages. At the core of this 
activity is our technology, which we are 
rebuilding to simplify and upgrade and 
which will result in more efficient, stable and 
scalable infrastructure. Technology sits at the 
heart of what we do and carefully managing 
the upgrade of our systems is critical to our 
success. 

A focus in the 2018 financial year will be on 
moving to a new, more agile, IT infrastructure 
provider. This transition is expected to 
result in operating cost savings, while at the 
same time upgrading service levels and the 
scalability of our technology platform. The 
one-off termination cost of these changes 
is expected to total approximately £1.5 million 
in FY18, which we will not include within our 
underlying EBITDA, and which will pay back 
in less than 18 months.

Our target is to maintain our annual adjusted 
operating expenses at approximately £40 
million. This excludes non-cash items and 
direct costs of sale which vary with revenue. 
We intend to achieve this through continuous 
identification of opportunities to increase 
automation and reduce operating costs, which 
will generate cost savings that in turn can be 
used to support our sales, marketing and new 
product development activities. 

2015

2016

2017

2015

2016

2017

STRATEGY IN ACTION

Working with Buyers  
to onboard Suppliers 

Andrea Newlands  
Project and Process Manager – London

“I have been with Tungsten Network for over seven years 

in various roles and am now part of a team that helps 
Suppliers to become part of Tungsten Network. We first 
work with Buyers to identify which of their Suppliers we 
will next bring on to the Tungsten Network, and identify 
which are suited to our Integrated Solution product. We 
then talk with each Supplier, so that we can appropriately 
consult on the portal option that best suits their needs. 
This approach has proven to be the optimal method of 
enrolling new Suppliers onto the Network, ensuring  
happy customers on both the Buyer and Supplier side.

E-invoicing as a new concept for a business can be quite 
confusing at first. This is why a dedicated onboarding  
team and clear processes are key for a campaign success. 
It means we can keep Suppliers well informed and ensure 
they have a smooth e-invoicing journey, using the portal 
that suits their corporate needs. The success rates, in 
comparison to email only campaigns, are impressive.  
This is what I believe sets Tungsten Network apart  
from other e-invoicing service providers.

”

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017STRATEGIC REPORT15

3

Distinctive invoice financing

Tungsten Network Finance was relaunched in 
November 2016. Over the past year under its 
president, Prabhat Vira, we have agreed new 
funding partnerships, expanded the product 
range, simplified our product offering and 
recruited a new, highly skilled team.

Invoice financing remains an important 
part of Tungsten’s business. The effective 
management of working capital is a strategic 
imperative for all the members of the Tungsten 
Network and we believe that Tungsten is well 
placed to deliver distinctive invoice financing 
products to Buyers and Suppliers.

Our customer base is diverse, comprising 
Buyers and Suppliers that are widely spread 
geographically. They may be sole traders or 
the largest companies in the world. They may 
operate in the private or public sectors. They 
may be government authorities, or they may 
be non-sector specific. We therefore need a 
range of invoice financing products to meet 
the differing requirements of our customers. 
A key focus in financial year 2017 was 
designing and securing funding partners for 
this wider product range.

We monitor the progress of our invoice 
financing activities through three primary 
metrics: the average outstanding amounts 
financed in a period (“average outstandings”); 
the gross yield of those invoices financed 
(“gross yield”); and Tungsten’s return on 
those invoices financed (“net yield”). 

We are receiving interest in the range of 
products now offered by Tungsten Network 
Finance. Consequently our net yield will 
be impacted by product mix, as we expect 
to achieve a lower net yield on larger 
funding sizes.

Tungsten Early Payment was relaunched in 
November 2016. With the extended support 
of our primary funding partner, Insight 
Investment, it has a new online customer 
portal, a simplified and more competitive 
pricing structure, and streamlined customer 
on-boarding. 

Tungsten Network Finance product pipeline

Funding 
size

Target market

Product

Status

Small

•  Micro Suppliers*

•  Line of credit
•  Term loan (1 to 5 years)

•  Live
•  To be confirmed in FY18

•  SME Suppliers

•  Tungsten Early Payment

•  To be confirmed in FY18

•  Mid-market Suppliers

•  Structured Tungsten 

•  Live

Early Payment

•  Receivables finance
•  Pool-based receivables

•  To be confirmed in FY18
•  To be confirmed in FY18

•  Large corporate 

•  Structured receivables 

•  To be confirmed in FY18

Suppliers

finance

Large

•  Large corporate Buyers

•  Supply chain finance
•  Dynamic discounting

•  Live
•  Live

*  £50,000 to £750,000 annual value of invoices on Tungsten Network

By 30 April 2017, 85 Suppliers had used 
Tungsten Early Payment since its inception. 
Of these, 41 had an outstanding balance at 
the end of FY17. The average gross yield in 
the financial year was 6.7% (FY16: 6.3%) and 
the net yield was 1.3% (FY16: not material).

%
5
.
9

%
3
1

.

Gross Net

Gross and net yield 
in 2017

Including invoices financed by Tungsten Bank 
prior to its sale, a total of £380 million of 
invoices were paid through Supplier accounts 
(FY16: £170 million), of which Tungsten 
financed £120 million (FY16: £103 million). 
The average duration of financed invoices 
was 37 days (FY16: 38 days).

4

Expand adjacent services

Product innovation was reintroduced at 
Tungsten over the financial year 2017, with 
a range of new initiatives launched for our 
customers. This includes an Invoice Data 
Capture product, dynamic discounting 
functionality for our Buyers, and a mobile 
application to enable Suppliers to see the 
status of their invoices whilst on the move. 
Tungsten also became the first and only 
e-invoicing provider to offer compliant, 
paperless invoicing in India.

During the financial year we also launched 
our first adjacent services delivered 
through partners. Whilst still early in their 
development, our global payments offering, 
provided through Payoneer, and a flexible 
line of credit, in partnership with Blue Vine, 
are intended to be part of a range of adjacent 
services that enable us to engage more fully 
with our customers.

We have continued to make progress in 
identifying opportunities for our data analytics 
capabilities. This includes a significant sale 
of our Buyer procurement analytics tool. We 
have developed a Supplier analytics product, 
scheduled for launch in FY18, and continue 
to have discussions with a number of other 
partners to enhance our capabilities further.

We are pursuing further opportunities 
to expand our services, through product 
development, partnerships and, at a future 
date, corporate activity, whilst maintaining our 
focus on cost discipline and profitable growth. 

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements     
16

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REVIEW continued

FY18 Priorities
Our focus in FY18 is to grow profitable 
revenues and to achieve our target of 
breaking even on a monthly basis. We intend 
to achieve this through broader and deeper 
engagement with our Network members and 
continuing to transform our cost base.

We expect the pace of new customer 
acquisitions to accelerate over the fiscal year. 
FY18 has started well, with four new Buyers 
contracted since 1 May 2017. This reflects a 
stronger start to the year than in past years. 

We also have a healthy pipeline of new deal 
prospects, giving us confidence that this 
year we will exceed the 10 new Buyer sales 
achieved in FY17.

Already in FY18 we have had some successes 
in encouraging our current Buyers to adopt 
more of our products. The most notable is 
the early adoption of our new Invoice Data 
Capture service that we launched in March 
and have since sold to three Buyers. We are 
encouraged that the 99+% accuracy delivered 
through Invoice Data Capture is already 
proving attractive to our Buyers, acting as 
a stepping stone to the digital automation 
that comes from integrating with the 
Tungsten Network.

We are also seeing increased interest in our 
other new products, including enhanced 
purchase order services, dynamic discounting 
and compliant invoicing in India.

We continue to work closely with our Buyer 
customers to bring more of their supply 
chains onto the Network. Increasingly, this 
is taking the form of commitments from the 
Buyer that includes executive sponsorship, 
appropriate resources to implement required 
changes, and a mandate to reject paper 
invoices. With these commitments, we can 
deliver maximum benefits for our Buyers and 
we expect this to result in increased numbers 
of e-invoicing Suppliers joining the Network 
and, in particular, those purchasing our 
Integrated Solution product.

STRATEGY IN ACTION

Investing in our infrastructure

Mike Barbarelli 
Senior Developer – London

“I’ve been Senior Developer and Business Analyst at 

Tungsten Network since 2005. Technology has always 
been the foundation of our business, so we know that 
investing in our technological infrastructure to keep it 
current with the latest advances is essential to maintain 
high performance standards within our systems. 
This empowers us to deliver the best possible  
user-experience to our customers. 

Over the past two years, I’ve seen a significant increase 
in focus on the architecture of our systems, and we 
have undertaken a big project to move our systems 
to the cloud. This will not only improve the customer 
experience in terms of speed and performance, but build 
firmer foundations by freeing resources to focus on the 
delivery of value added services and integrate exciting 
new technologies into our products and services in the 
future.

An example of one such technology would be blockchain. 
This year I played a leading part in educating our 
leadership team about the potential of blockchain 
technologies. We can see they have exciting capabilities 
to support our key business focus on strengthening 
the global supply chain. We are actively exploring the 
technologies, and as part of that I completed this year 
a period of research participating in the Ethereum 
blockchain programming course.

”

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017STRATEGIC REPORT17

Outlook
We successfully delivered against our targets 
for FY17. Our targets for FY18 trading are 
as follows:
•  Constant currency growth in revenue in 

excess of 15% (FY171: 12%);

•  Gross margin reduction to a minimum of 

90% (FY171: 92.8%), reflecting a higher mix 
of our lower margin Invoice Data Capture 
sales; and,

•  Adjusted operating expenses of less than 
£40 million (FY171: £40.8 million). This 
excludes one-off restructuring costs of 
approximately £2 million expected in FY18.

1  As re-presented

We remain on track to achieve monthly 
EBITDA breakeven in calendar 2017.

Richard Hurwitz
Chief Executive Officer

24 July 2017

The transformation of our operations will 
continue over the course of FY18. We 
have focussed in the preceding 18 months 
on increasing control over the business, 
repairing contractual anomalies and 
developing implementation plans. FY18 will 
see us commit to the extension of these plans. 
We expect to incur up to £2 million of one-off 
costs in the process, notably £1.5 million of 
exit fees associated with onerous contracts 
and £0.5 million of redundancies. We expect 
these costs to pay back in less than 18 
months and they will be excluded from the 
calculation of our underlying EBITDA.

Further technology projects continuing in 
FY18 include harmonising and improving 
our customer facing online presence, and 
the rollout of automation and collaboration 
capabilities based on the Salesforce 
cloud platform. 

These enhanced technologies will create 
opportunities for organisational change that 
will allow for delivery that is more effective 
and further cost reduction. FY18 will see the 
completion of the Finance and HR shared 
service transition. We will also undertake 
the next phase of the reorganisation of our 
service delivery teams, further centralising 
activity in our facility in Sofia, Bulgaria.

We are excited about the possibilities for our 
Tungsten Network Finance activities in FY18. 
With many new funding partnerships in place, 
we have products to appeal to a wide range 
of customers on our Network. Our focus 
in FY18 will be to increase the number of 
customers taking a financing product and, as 
a consequence, our average outstandings.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements18

STRATEGIC REPORT

COMMITTED TO OUR TALENT

We are a team of technologists, 
specialists, B2B commerce experts, 
process mavens and digital evangelists 
that are dedicated to making global 
trade frictionless through the intelligent 
use of data and the death of paper. 

385

dedicated and skilled 
employees

OUR VALUED STAFF

Tungsten Network employees are multicultural and 
multitalented, collaborating globally across five different 
offices, strategically located in London, Atlanta, Kuala 
Lumpur, Sofia and Toledo. We are a mixture of hard-won 
experience and fresh-faced enthusiasm, but we each 
share a commitment to working together to provide 
the best possible service for our customers. Through 
a combination of new hires and important retentions, 
we have put in place the people and skills to add real 
value to the supply chain through the connections that 
are made across Tungsten Network every day. Each 
member of the Tungsten Network team now plays 
a key role in creating a frictionless supply chain.

Internal promotions / role changes

37

Permanent staff 

%

84%

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 201719

30

languages we speak

TUNGSTEN NETWORK  
OFFICES

Head office
London
UK
177

number of 
employees

Rest of world
8 

number of 
employees

Atlanta
USA
34 

number of 
employees

Sofia
Bulgaria
14 

number of 
employees

Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
119 

number of 
employees

Perrysburg
USA
33 

number of 
employees

The diversity of our Network is reflected by our peopleTUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements20

STRATEGIC REPORT

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER’S REVIEW

Group overview
Tungsten’s turnaround has been carefully 
executed to allow for continued investment in 
revenue enhancing activities, such as sales, 
marketing and product development, while 
systematically transforming the cost base to 
be both lower and more leveragable.

For these reasons our financial performance 
for FY17 was encouraging. Although the 
comparability of both reported revenues 
and costs were affected by foreign exchange 
movements and the sale of Tungsten Bank, the 
achievement of 21% revenue growth (12% on a 
constant currency basis) and a small increase 
in adjusted operating expenses of 2% (a 
reduction of 4% on a constant currency basis, 
or 11% on a constant currency basis when 
the reduction in adjusted operating expenses 
from the sale of Tungsten Bank is included), 
demonstrates that our plans are on track.

We completed the sale of Tungsten Bank in 
December 2016 for a total cash consideration of 
£29.6 million. We recorded a loss for the year 
from Tungsten Bank of £0.2 million (FY16: £9.4 
million) but, importantly, reduced our adjusted 
operating expenses by £2.8 million and 
increased our available cash by £25 million.

Revenues

On a continuing 
operations basis1

Buyers

Suppliers

Tungsten 
Network 
Finance

Group

Revenue FY17

£13.7m

£17.4m

£0.2m

£31.3m

Revenue FY16

£10.1m

£15.8m

£0.0m

£25.9m

Change at constant 
exchange rate
Change at actual 
exchange rate

24%

35%

4%

850%

11%

985%

12%

21%

1  Excludes the results of Tungsten Bank from both reported periods

Group revenue was £31.3 million (FY16: 
re-presented: £25.9 million), representing an 
increase of 21% at actual exchange rates. At 
constant exchange rates revenue grew by 
12%. The growth in revenues reflected the 
benefits of new customer sales, additional 
product sales to current customers and 
existing customer price increases.

Revenue from 183 Buyer customers grew 35% 
to £13.7 million. This includes 10 new Buyers, 
which contributed £1.0 million in the period.

We have continued the successful 
programme of Buyer contract renewals 
that had commenced in FY16. We achieved 
further price lift averaging 49% with 41 of our 
Buyer customers in FY17. These increased 
FY17 revenue by £0.6 million, with a further 
benefit expected in FY18 of £0.5 million. 
Buyer revenues represented 44% of total 
Tungsten Network revenues in the 2017 
financial year. 

We have demonstrated control 
over our operating costs and 
are focussed on achieving 
breakeven this year.

HIGHLIGHTS
Group revenue 

2017

20161

2015

Cost of sales 

2017

2016

2015

£m

31.3

£m

2.3

2.5

25.9

22.5

1.9

Adjusted operating expenses2 

£m

2017

20163

2015

EBITDA4 loss 

2017

20165

2015

11.8

16.2

40.8

40.1

45.3

£m

25.2

1  Excludes £0.2 million revenue from Tungsten Bank, now presented as discontinued operation
2  Adjusted operating expenses defined as operating expenses from continuing operations excluding 

cost of sales and before depreciation, amortisation and share-based payments charge
3  Excludes £2.8 million adjusted operating expenses of Tungsten Bank, now re-presented as 

discontinued operation

4  EBITDA defined as earnings from continuing operations before other income, depreciation, 

amortisation and share-based payments charge

5  Excludes £2.6 million EBITDA loss from Tungsten Bank, now presented as discontinued operation

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017 
 
21

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Total invoice volume 

#m

Revenue per invoice 

£

Adjusted operating expenses 

£m

Average TNF outstandings 

£m

17.1 million 

+6%

£1.82  

2017

2016

17.1

16.1

2017

2016

+13%
1.82

1.61

£40.8 million 

+2%

£13.7 million 

2017

2016

40.8

40.1

2017

2016

+23%
13.7

11.1

Revenue from our Supplier customers grew 
11% to £17.4 million. This was split £14.3 
million from Integrated Solution Suppliers 
(FY16: £12.7 million) and £3.1 million from 
Web Form Suppliers (FY16: £3.1 million). 
We increased the net number of Suppliers 
connected to our Network in FY17 by 48,000. 

Tungsten purchases invoices from approved 
Suppliers on Tungsten Network, which 
are then sold to a funding partner. In the 
reporting period these funding partners were 
Tungsten Network Finance (self-funded), 
Insight Investment and Tungsten Bank. 

The total gross Tungsten Network Early 
Payment fees in FY17 were £786,000 (FY16: 
£611,000), of which £152,000 (FY16: negligible) 
was attributable as revenue for Tungsten 
Network Finance. This excludes revenue 
recognised by Tungsten Bank until its sale on 
21 December 2016 of £272,000 (£247,000 in 
respect of fees generated in FY17 and £25,000 
in respect of fees generated in FY16). This is 
presented within discontinued operation.

The Tungsten Network Finance revenue 
included revenue from self-funded invoices 
and our share of revenue from Insight 
Investment funded invoices. In November 
2016, Tungsten Network Finance started 
to operate with Insight Investment under 
a revised funding arrangement that will 
result in a higher proportion of revenues 
generated by the Tungsten Network Early 
Payment product being paid to Tungsten 
Network Finance. 

Group EBITDA loss was £11.8 million  
(FY16 re-presented: £16.2 million), a reduction  
of 27%. The improvement of £4.4 million 
reflects a £5.4 million increase in revenue, 
offset by a £0.4 million increase in cost of 
sales and a £0.7 million increase in adjusted 
operating expenses.

On a constant currency basis, the Group 
EBITDA loss would have been £11.2 million,  
a reduction of 31%. On a constant currency 
basis revenue increased by 12% (£3.2 million), 
whilst cost of sales and adjusted operating 
expenses fell by 2% (£40,000) and 4%  
(£1.8 million) respectively. The net impact  
of the change in currencies was a reduction  
in the reported EBITDA by £0.6 million.

EBITDA

On a continuing 
operations basis1

Revenue FY17

Revenue FY16

Change at constant exchange rate
Change at actual exchange rate

Cost of sales FY17

Cost of sales FY16

Change at constant exchange rate
Change at actual exchange rate

Tungsten
Network

Tungsten 
Network 
Finance

£31.1m

£0.2m

£25.9m

12%
21%

£(2.3)m

£(1.9)m

(2)%
16%

Neg

850%
985%

Neg

–

Neg
Neg

Corporate

Group

–

–

n/a
n/a

–

–

n/a
n/a

£31.3m

£25.9m

12%
21%

£(2.3)m

£(1.9)m

(2)%
16%

Adjusted operating expenses2,3 FY17

£(33.1)m £(1.8)m £(5.9)m £(40.8)m

Adjusted operating expenses FY16

£(29.7)m

£(3.8)m

£(6.6)m £(40.1)m

Change at constant exchange rate
Change at actual exchange rate

3%
11%

(52)%
(52)%

(11)%
(11)%

(4)%
2%

EBITDA2 FY17

EBITDA FY16

Change at constant exchange rate
Change at actual exchange rate

£(4.2)m £(1.7)m £(5.9)m £(11.8)m

£(5.8)m

£(3.8)m

£(6.6)m £(16.2)m

(35)%
(28)%

(55)%
(55)%

(11)%
(11)%

(31)%
(28)%

1  Excludes the results of Tungsten Bank from both reported periods
2  Adjusted operating expenses and EBITDA exclude depreciation, amortisation, impairment, discontinued operations, and share-based 

payments charges

3  Excludes Tungsten Bank adjusted operating expenses of £2.8 million in FY16. Including these, the variances are 11% reduction on a 

constant exchange rate and 5% reduction at the actual exchange rate

Adjusted operating expenses included a 
reduction in costs in Tungsten Network 
Finance by £2.0 million compared to the 
prior year, and reduced Corporate costs of 
£0.7 million. These were partly offset by 
an increase in costs in Tungsten Network 
of £3.4 million, where the additional systems 
and development and the one-off costs 
were incurred.

The reduction in constant currency adjusted 
operating expenses reflects disciplined 
changes resulting from the reorganisation 
and reengineering of the business. 
Our programmes of work include enhancing 
our procurement processes, increasing 
automation and rationalising activities into 
centres of excellence. Where the return is 
appropriate, we have increased operational 
expenditure, primarily in systems and 
development costs. These totalled an 
additional £1.5 million in the period. We 
also incurred one-off costs of £1.2 million, 
reflecting contract cancellation, write-offs 
and redundancy costs.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements22

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER’S REVIEW continued

STRATEGY IN ACTION

Centralising our operations

Lau Lee Koon 
Head of Financial Shared Services – Kuala Lumpur

“When I joined the Company in April 2016 Tungsten 

Network offered me the opportunity to help oversee the 
creation of a Financial Shared Services Centre in Kuala 
Lumpur, and subsequently to head up this new centre of 
excellence within the Company.

Over the course of the last year we have successfully 
centralised the functions of Procure-to-Pay (P2P) and 
Record-to-Report (R2R). We are already beginning to 
operate more quickly and effectively, processing Supplier 
invoices faster, and closing our monthly accounts earlier. 
We will continue to digitise our finance function and are 
already in the process of automating our billing process 
and centralising our taxation work.

Our customers typically organise their finance teams 
functionally, to achieve greater process efficiencies. By 
embracing this strategy, Tungsten Network is able to 
work in the same way as our customers, and to feel the 
attendant benefits of digitisation and automation in the 
increased speed and effectiveness with which we execute 
our processes.

”

Loss before tax:
The Group loss before tax from continuing 
operations was £12.7 million (FY16 re-
presented and restated: loss of £18.5 million). 
This includes:
•  Depreciation and amortisation  

of £2.8 million (FY16: £2.5 million)
•  Share-based payment expense  
of £0.4 million (FY16: £0.5 million)

•  Net finance income of £2.3 million (FY16 
re-presented and restated: £0.4 million).

The comparative includes other income  
of £0.3 million.

The increase in depreciation and amortisation 
of £0.3 million primarily relates to the write-
off of certain intangible assets which no 
longer met the criteria for capitalisation.

The net finance income represented £2.9 million 
of net gains on the revaluation of intercompany 
loans to overseas subsidiaries less £0.6 million 
of interest expenses and bank charges.

Loss for the year:
The statutory Group loss for the year was 
£12.5 million (FY16 re-presented and restated: 
£27.2 million). A tax credit of £0.4 million 
(FY16: £0.7 million) includes a reduction of 
£0.4 million in the deferred tax liability relating 
to the acquisition of Tungsten Network.

The Group has an unrecognised deferred tax 
asset of approximately £12.9 million that is 
available for offset against future tax expenses 
in the companies in which losses arise.

The statutory loss includes a loss from the 
discontinued operation of £0.2 million (FY16: 
£9.4 million). The loss from discontinued 
operation reflected a gain on the sale of 
Tungsten Bank of £1.9 million offset by a net 
loss of Tungsten Bank from the start of the 
financial year to the date of sale of £2.1 million.

Cash flow
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of FY17 
were £17.5 million, or £21.8 million including 
self-funded invoice receivables of £4.3 million. 
The comparative at the end of FY16 was £9.3 
million excluding Tungsten Bank and £27.0 
million including Tungsten Bank.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017STRATEGIC REPORT23

Continuing and discontinued operation cash flow:

FY17 Cash Flow

Continuing
operations

Discontinued 
operation

Group

Net cash inflow / (outflow) from operating activities

£(18.5)m

£3.4m £(15.2)m

Net cash inflow / (outflow) from investing activities

£(4.3)m

£29.7m

£25.4m

Net increase / (decrease) in cash & cash equivalents
Exchange adjustments
Cash and cash equivalents at the start of the period
Cash held in disposal group

£(22.9)m
£0.9m
£9.3m
–

£33.1m
–
£17.8m

£10.2m
£0.9m
£27.0m
£(20.6)m £(20.6)m

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period

£(12.8)m

£30.3m

£17.5m

“I’m proud to be heading up a team 

that delivers so much value to the 
business, and excited about forthcoming 
opportunities to further expand the remit 
of Shared Services Centre to achieve 
greater efficiencies and savings for the 
Tungsten Network.

”

The cash outflow from operating activities 
was £15.2 million (FY16: £21.7 million). 
This included:
•  A cash outflow generated from operations 
of £12.3 million (FY16: £18.1 million);

•  An inflow from trade and other receivables 
of £0.3 million (FY16: £1.6 million outflow);

•  An outflow in respect of invoice 

receivables of £4.3 million (FY16: nil);
•  An outflow from a decrease in trade and 
other payables of £2.0 million (FY16: 
£0.8 million);

•  Net interest paid of £0.4 million (FY16: 

£0.3 million); and

•  A working capital inflow from discontinued 
operation of £3.6 million (FY16: outflow of 
£0.9 million).

There was a £0.3 million inflow from trade 
and other receivables (FY16: outflow of 
£1.6 million). This was primarily due to 
a reduction in trade receivables of £1.3 
million, demonstrating the impact of people 
and process changes within our billing and 
credit control teams. This was offset by the 
unwind of the £1.1 million deposit paid by the 
purchasers of Tungsten Bank, held as a credit 
to trade and other receivables at 30 April 
2016. The balance of the movement in trade 
and other receivables includes a number of 
other smaller movements.

from the purchase and capitalisation of 
fixed assets, and an inflow from the sale of 
Tungsten Bank of £29.7 million.

The total cash outflow from continuing 
operations was £22.9 million. This includes 
an outflow in respect of the purchase of 
invoice receivables of £4.3 million. Net of 
this movement, the total cash outflow from 
continuing operations was £18.6 million.

The total net cash impact of discontinued 
operations was £30.5 million. This reflects:
•  An inflow from operating activities of  
£3.4 million (£0.2 million loss before 
taxation offset by a £3.6 million inflow 
from working capital);

•  An inflow from investing activities  

of £29.7 million; and

•  A change in the cash balance of Tungsten 
Bank of £2.8 million between the start of 
the reporting period and the date of sale.

Loss per share
The basic and diluted loss per share was 
9.91p (FY16 re-presented and restated: 
22.02p). On an adjusted basis excluding share-
based payments, other income, impairments 
and acquisition-related amortisation, basic 
and diluted loss per share was 8.24p (FY16 
re-presented and restated: 12.59p).

Invoice receivables represent outstanding 
Early Payment invoices that were financed 
by the Group on a transitional basis prior 
to the implementation of additional funding 
arrangements with our partners. Subsequent 
to the year-end, all of these Early Payment 
invoices had been repaid except invoices 
totalling £35,000. The outstanding invoices 
are scheduled to be repaid by 2 August 2017.

Net assets
The Group’s financial position has been 
strengthened by the sale of Tungsten Bank. 
Net assets decreased by £14.8 million to £131.3 
million during the year (FY16: £146.1 million) 
due to the Group’s statutory loss of £12.5 
million and currency translation differences 
of £2.7 million, offset by a movement in the 
share-based payment reserve of £0.4 million.

An increase in trade and other payables of 
£2.0 million primarily reflects an increase 
in accrued expenses of £2.4 million. The 
balance of the movement in trade and other 
payables includes a number of other smaller 
movements.

The cash inflow from investing activities was 
£25.4 million (FY16: outflow of £1.2 million). 
This includes an outflow of £4.3 million 

David Williams
Chief Financial Officer

24 July 2017

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements24

PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

Tungsten is proud to operate the world’s largest 
compliant e-invoicing network and to be the trusted 
partner of tens of thousands of global enterprises. 

Our customers expect us to stay ahead of 
the risks and uncertainties that are inherent 
in business. 

Risk management at Tungsten starts at the 
Board, but is delivered throughout the Group. 
The Audit Committee continually monitors 
and promotes the highest standards 
of integrity, financial reporting, risk 
management and internal control.

The Executive Directors and the executive 
management team oversee the management 
of the business utilising a wide range of 
controls, including financial, operational 
and compliance oversight, together with 
risk management. They ensure that the 
risk management strategy is implemented 
throughout the business.

Tungsten has dedicated compliance and 
cyber security teams. Amongst other 
things, these teams are accountable for the 
maintenance of the appropriate controls and 
processes to sustain Tungsten’s certification 
under both ISO 27001 (information security 
management) and ISAE 3402 (controls at a 
service organisation). The Security Committee 
is chaired by the Chief Financial Officer and 
includes other members of the executive 
management team as well as key personnel 
from the business who are responsible 
for delivery.

All significant sales opportunities are subject 
to technical and contractual review by senior 
members of our legal, financial, commercial 
and technology teams. There are strict 
internal controls applied to the development 
of our systems, products and services.  

In order to assist with the management 
of risks, the Group continues to recruit 
individuals who are expert in our markets, 
technology and support disciplines. The 
Group has a delegation of authorities that 
clearly sets out the approval required for key 
activities, including those restricted to the 
Board and the Executive Directors. 

The disclosure of the key risks and 
uncertainties in the table below reflects the 
approach of the Company to also look for the 
opportunities presented when addressing 
such risks. This is not an exhaustive list of 
all the risks faced by the Company.

Tungsten considers these risks in accordance 
with the governance procedures set out on 
page 28.

Our risk management process

IDENTIFY

MEASURE

MANAGE

MONITOR

REPORT

Tungsten’s customers and other 
stakeholders expect the highest 
standards of risk management. To 
facilitate this and evidence assurance, 
the risks from the risk register are 
discussed, debated and challenged, firstly 
by the Executive Committee and then by 
the Audit Committee before the principal 
risks are presented to the Board. 

The disclosure of the key risks and 
uncertainties in the table below reflects 
the approach of the Company to also look 
for the opportunities presented when 
addressing significant risks. This is not 
an exhaustive list of all the risks faced by 
the Company. Tungsten considers these 
risks in accordance with the governance 
procedures set out on page 34.

Key risks and their likelihood

3

1

2

4

6

5

7

8

9

10

11

12

Low

Stable

High

1.  Anti-fraud, bribery and corruption
2.  Concentration on major customers
3.  Failure of critical vendors
4.  Availability of sufficient liquidity to 

meet growth expectations

5.  Compliance with local tax, legal and 

regulatory regimes

6.  Political, including the impact of the 

UK leaving the EU and GDPR
7.  Commercial failure of products
8.  Complexity of operational processes
9.  Change to business execution
10.  Retention of key personnel

11.  Data protection and cyber security
12.  IT system enhancements

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017STRATEGIC REPORT25

Risk

Strategic

Impact

Mitigation

Direction of change
The Company is now more stable and is demonstrating progress in executing its business strategy. As a result of these changes, the overall 
level of strategic risk facing Tungsten has decreased from prior years.

The business model fails to meet 
its strategic objectives.

•  Failure to achieve targets for 
revenue, profit and earnings.

•  Damage to reputation.

Tungsten works with some of the 
world’s biggest companies. There 
is a risk that Tungsten may fail 
to win and/or retain contracts on 
satisfactory terms and conditions 
with the existing as well as new 
targeted customers and markets.

•  Failure to meet our 
growth plans.

•  Failure to achieve targets for 
revenue, profit and earnings.

•  Failure to meet our 
growth plans.

•  Failure to achieve targets for 
revenue, profit and earnings.
•  Products and services become 

unavailable.

•  Damage to reputation.

Failure to invest in enhancements 
to the infrastructure and 
operating systems leading to 
loss of advantage over our 
competitors and failure to meet 
the expectation of our customers.

Technological & Operational

•  The strategy is regularly reviewed and challenged by the Executive 
Committee and Board, and communicated effectively to all staff.

•  The strategy forms the basis of the annual business 

planning process.

•  Performance targets are aligned to strategy.

•  Active management in place to spread revenues across all 

customers. No one customer accounts for significant revenue 
or concentration of revenue.

•  Structured contracts approval process with clearly defined selection 
criteria to ensure contracts are taken on or renewed only where 
Tungsten can provide a good service and manage any risks involved.

•  Continual review and development of the client relationship 

management structure and function to improve services to the 
existing customer base.

•  A process is in place to continuously listen and respond to 
customers to enhance their experience of using Tungsten’s 
products and services.

•  The governance frameworks are key to ensuring successful 
implementation of all aspects of the planned enhancements 
and changes.

•  Detailed approval and planning process prior to project 

commencement.

•  The Executive Committee and Board review and challenge the 
status/progress of key change programmes and projects.

•  Experts in infrastructure projects and change programmes have 

been hired to achieve successful implementation.

•  Post-implementation reviews are undertaken once a project is 

completed so that lessons can be learned.

Direction of change
There are several multi-year projects to upgrade the underlying systems and infrastructure as well as improve operational processes. These 
changes can be significant and critical to the success of the business. Therefore, the overall level of technological and operational risk facing 
Tungsten remains high.

•  Products and services become 

•  The strategy is regularly reviewed and challenged by the Executive 

Tungsten has a highly developed 
and complex operational and IT 
infrastructure, which is constantly 
developed and upgraded. A major 
incident as a result of an internal 
or external event could impact 
the ability of the Company to 
provide products and services to 
its customers.

unavailable.

•  Customer claims for losses. 

Loss of customers.
•  Damage to reputation.
•  Failure to meet our 
growth plans.

Committee and Board.

•  The strategy forms the basis of the annual business planning process.
•  Performance targets are aligned to strategy.
•  Strategy is regularly and effectively communicated to all staff.
•  Documented up-to-date disaster recovery and business continuity 
plans which are regularly tested. Use of multiple hosting centres.
•  IT recovery plans include website resilience and penetration tests.
•  Ongoing, real-time technology defence mechanisms in place.
•  Continuous monitoring of IT systems availability.
•  Governance frameworks in place to ensure appropriate management 

of the risks and mitigants.

•  New employees with the appropriate skills have been recruited and, 
where required, third party experts are used to review and validate 
both the planning and execution of programmes of work. 
•  Training and employee awareness programmes in place.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements26

PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES 
continued

Risk

Impact

Mitigation

Technological & Operational continued

The Tungsten Group has a 
highly developed and complex 
IT infrastructure. There is a risk 
of information security breach 
including cyber attacks leading to 
loss of confidentiality, integrity or 
availability of data. 

Tungsten is constantly developing 
and upgrading many aspects 
of its technology software and 
hardware. As a result, there is 
a risk of failure or inefficiencies 
in its operations, systems and 
infrastructure.

•  Products and services become 

unavailable.

•  Customer claims for losses. 

Loss of customers.
•  Damage to reputation.
•  Failure to meet our 
growth plans.

•  Mitigating cyber attacks is of paramount importance to the Company 
to ensure customer confidence in the security and availability of our 
products and services.

•  Well-defined IT security procedures in place.
•  Documented up-to-date disaster recovery and business continuity 
plans, which are regularly tested. Use of multiple hosting centres.
•  Comprehensive review of procedures and controls as part of the 

annual International Standards for Assurance Engagements (ISAE) 
3402 Assurance Reports on Controls at a Service Organisation.
•  Comprehensive review of procedures and controls as part of 

the annual independent ISO 27001 certification, the international 
standard describing best practice for an Information Security 
Management System.

•  Training and employee awareness programmes in place.

•  Products and services become 

unavailable.

•  Customer claims for losses. 

Loss of customers.
•  Damage to reputation.
•  Failure to meet our 
growth plans.

•  Additional costs if projects 
not delivered on time or 
within budget or if additional 
work required.

•  Processes in place to improve operational performance.
•  Documented up-to-date disaster recovery and business continuity 
plans which are regularly tested. Use of multiple hosting centres.
•  IT recovery plans include website resilience and penetration tests.
•  New employees with the appropriate skills have been recruited and, 
where required, third party experts are used to review and validate 
both the planning and execution of programmes of work. 

•  Continuous monitoring of IT systems availability.
•  Continuing to enhance our technological and operational capabilities 

through investment in high quality staff and IT functionality.
•  Oversight of satisfactory completion of improvements and 

enhancements by Executive Committee.

Tungsten Network processed 
over 17 million invoices in FY16 
and holds a significant volume 
of customer data. There is a risk 
of a data breach.

•  Uninsured loss claims 
from customers.

•  Loss of customers. Damage to 
reputation. Financial penalties.

•  Processes in place to ensure adherence to data protection and 

security awareness policies.

•  Training and employee awareness programmes in place.
•  No issues raised under the independent review of procedures and 

controls as part of the annual ISAE 3402 Reports.

Tungsten uses market-leading 
external IT vendors to support 
its businesses including software 
upgrades. There is a risk of 
failure/closure of a vendor which 
could impact the ability of the 
Company to provide products 
and services to its customers.

Financial

•  Products and services 
become unavailable.

•  Prior to appointment, key vendors are subject to due diligence check 

and assessed for financial viability.

•  Customer claims for losses. 

•  The relationship with and financial position of key vendors are 

reviewed on a regular basis.

•  Key vendors required to have ISO 27001 certification. Only leading 

vendors are engaged.

Loss of customers.
•  Damage to reputation.
•  Failure to meet our 
growth plans.

Direction of change
The level of financial risk facing Tungsten has decreased as revenues have grown, losses decreased and liquidity strengthened.

Tungsten may be subject to non-
payment by its customers.

•  Failure to meet our growth 
plans. Ability to invest 
or develop.
•  Litigation costs.

•  Ongoing project to review whole credit management processes.
•  New credit monitoring process in place to address aged debtors.
•  Credit analytics reporting in place.

Exposure to foreign exchange 
fluctuations, resulting in a 
material impact on profit or 
cash balances.

•  Failure to meet our 
growth plans.

•  Failure to achieve targets for 
revenue, profits or earnings.

•  Tungsten reports in and holds the majority of its cash balances in 

British Sterling.

•  Revenues and costs for its other major currencies of US Dollar and 

the Euro are materially equal.

•  Currency exposure is forward managed and hedging products 

considered where appropriate.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017STRATEGIC REPORT27

Risk

People

Impact

Mitigation

Direction of change
There has been a high turnover of staff at all levels as a result of changes to the business strategy. Many new high calibre people have joined 
the Group, and continuous succession planning has resulted in a reduction in the level of risk.

Inability to retain, develop 
and motivate a highly skilled 
and knowledgeable senior 
management team.

Inability to attract, retain, develop 
and motivate the best people with 
the appropriate capabilities to 
create a high quality, diverse and 
flexible workforce.

Regulatory/Political

•  Failure to implement the 
strategy and achieve the 
business’ targets.

•  Over-reliance on key senior 

personnel to lead the business.

•  Loss of knowledge/skills 

within the senior management 
team.

•  Succession planning for all members of executive management 

is part of the Board agenda.

•  Competitive remuneration packages with oversight by the 
Remuneration Committee, including equity based long-
term incentives.

•  Strategies for senior management retention.

•  Failure to maintain satisfactory 

customer service levels.
•  Loss of knowledge/skills 
within the business.

•  Training and development, customer relationship, leadership, social 
responsibility and communications programmes in place to actively 
engage and retain employees.

•  Competitive remuneration packages with oversight by the 

•  Over reliance on key personnel.

Remuneration Committee.

•  Focus on creation of a culture and values to attract and motivate 

our people.

•  Recruitment strategy and succession planning in place including 

active encouragement of promotion from within.

Direction of change
Although the markets in which we operate and their legal and political environments are constantly evolving, the overall level of regulatory/ 
political risk facing Tungsten has not changed materially and remains stable.

•  Comprehensive documented policies relating to business conduct, 
financial crime, bribery, corruption and whistleblowing in place.
•  Working with external advisers to ensure that we remain up to date 
and receive appropriate advice, including assessing our readiness to 
implement GDPR. 

•  Oversight and monitoring including reporting of any deviations and 

exceptions to the Executive Committee.

•  Strategy to ensure that business model remains flexible and 

responsive to change and is regularly reviewed.

•  Horizon scanning by the Executive Committee for upcoming 

potential changes including product/diversification strategy to 
reduce impact.

•  Financial loss as a result 
of restricted access to 
the markets.

•  Damage to reputation. 
Regulatory censure.

•  Increased compliance costs.

Tungsten has customers in 175 
countries around the world. Our 
business model and our services 
are affected by legal, political 
and regulatory changes that 
restrict access to markets and 
customers. These changes include 
implementation of the EU General 
Data Protection Regulation 
(GDPR) in May 2018 and the UK’s 
exit from the European Union.

Richard Hurwitz
Chief Executive Officer

24 July 2017

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements28

GOVERNANCE

INTRODUCTION TO GOVERNANCE

LEADERSHIP

OUR  
GOVERNANCE 
PRINCIPLES

TRANSPARENCY

RESPECT

Dear Shareholder,

The Board
As a Board we recognise the importance of 
high standards of corporate governance. The 
Company is listed on AIM and is therefore not 
required to comply with the UK Corporate 
Governance Code 2016 (‘the Code’). The 
Company considers the Code as a basis for 
guiding its governance structures but also 
recognises that some aspects of the Code 
are not relevant for AIM companies such as 
Tungsten.

We therefore also measure our governance 
policies and structure against the Quoted 
Companies Alliance corporate governance 
code for small and mid-sized companies 
2013 (the QCA Code) as we consider that 
the QCA Code is more applicable for small 
and mid-sized companies. We believe we 
have achieved the 12 principles of corporate 
governance recommended by the QCA Code. 
The policies and procedures put in place at 
the time of admission to AIM in October 2013 
gave us a firm foundation for our governance 
structures and we continue to build on these 
each year. We aim to work towards full 
compliance with the Code in the medium 
term.

The role of the Board
The Board has in place a Schedule of Matters 
Reserved for the Board, which sets out the 
Board’s responsibilities. The key tasks of the 
Board are:

•  Responsibility for the overall leadership 
of the Group and setting the Group’s 
values and standards

•  Approval of the Group’s strategic aims 

and objectives

•  Approvals of the annual operating and 
capital expenditure budgets and any 
material changes to them

•  Oversight of the Group’s operations 
ensuring competent and prudent 
management, sound planning, 
maintenance of sound management 
and internal control systems, adequate 
accounting and other records and 
compliance with statutory and regulatory 
obligations

•  Review of performance in light of the 
Group’s strategic aims, objectives and 
business plans and budgets and ensuring 
that any necessary corrective action is 
taken

•  Extension of the Group’s activities into 

new areas

•  Decisions to cease to operate any material 

part of the Group’s business

•  Changes to the Group’s capital structure
•  Approval of the financial statements, 

Annual Report and financial statements, 
material contracts and major projects

•  Approval of the dividend policy and 

dividend payments

•  Approval of the Group’s internal control 
and risk management systems and 
structures

•  Approval of major capital projects, 

contracts and investments

•  Approval of communications with 
shareholders and the market

•  Approval of Board membership and other 
senior appointments and any changes.

Nick Parker
Non-Executive Chairman

24 July 2017

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 201729

Our Board and Committee structure

Chairman

Chief  
Executive  
Officer

Nick Parker

Richard Hurwitz

Key objectives
Chairing the Board meetings, upholding 
the highest levels of integrity, probity and 
corporate governance.

Key objectives
Leadership, operation and 
governance of the Board, setting the 
agenda of the Board.

Tungsten 
Corporation 
Board of 
Directors

Six Directors – Two Executive 
Directors and four Independent  
Non-Executive Directors

Key objectives
Responsible for the overall conduct 
of the business setting strategy.

Audit  
Committee

Nomination 
and 
Remuneration 
Committee

Ad hoc 
Committee/s

Chair: Peter Kiernan

Chair: Nick Parker

Key objectives
Oversight and review of financial and 
operational risk management, audit 
and internal control issues.

Key objectives
Oversight and review of Board and 
senior management appointments and 
succession planning. 

=  See pg 37

=  See pg 38

Executive 
Committee

Key objectives
To focus on strategy, financial 
performance, succession planning, 
business growth, organisational 
development and support of Group-
wide policies. 

Business  
units and 
operational  
staff

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements30

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Nick Parker
Non-Executive Director

Peter Kiernan
Senior Independent Director

Richard Hurwitz
Chief Executive Officer

David Benello
Independent
Non-Executive Director

Year appointed
2015

Year appointed
2012

Year appointed
2014

Year appointed
2015

Key strengths
•  Proven track record of building  
and successfully exiting high 
growth companies

•  Strong acumen in general 

management and capital raising 
in the financial and technology 
sectors in Europe and abroad
•  Emphasises talent development

Previous experience
•  Pictometry International –  
Chief Executive, 2010-2013
•  Aegis Investment Partners – 
Partner, 2007-2010
•  Bancorp Services –  
Managing Partner, 1996-2005
•  Bridge Information Systems,  

1985-1996

corporate finance advisory roles

Key strengths
•  Over 30 years’ experience in 
•  Public sector strategy
•  Start-up and turnaround experience

Key strengths
•  35 years’ experience spanning 
investment banking and other 
professional services and as a 
Non-Executive Director

Chartered Accountant

Previous experience
•  Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. – 
•  S.G. Warburg & Co. Ltd. – Director
•  UBS Warburg – Managing Director
•  Goldman Sachs –  
Managing Director 
•  Lazard – Managing Director and 
Head of UK Investment Banking
•  Canaccord Genuity – Chairman of 
European Investment Banking
•  Bell Pottinger – Senior Adviser
•  Heidrick & Struggles, UK Board 

Practice – Senior Adviser

External commitments
•  London First –  
Non-Executive Director
•  Listrac Holdings Limited –  
Non-Executive Director
•  OMERS Private Equity Europe – 

Senior Adviser

Committee

A

NR

1968-2002

Previous experience
•  PwC – Partner & various roles, 
•  Scottish Executive – Head of 
Performance & Innovation,  
2004-2007

•  Continental Farmers Group PLC – 
Chairman and Co-founder,  
2001-2013

•  Pension Insurance Corporation 
PLC – Co-founder and Director, 
2006-2015

2005-2007

Trustee, 2000-2009

•  The College of Optometrists – 
•  Project Scotland – Trustee,  
•  European Academy of Optometrists 
– Treasurer, 2009-2012
•  Tungsten Bank plc –  
Non-Executive Director

Non-Executive Director

Non-Executive Director

External commitments
•  The Wastepack Group Limited – 
•  Cuvva Limited –  
•  Farmstar Polska (UK) Limited – 
Non-Executive Director
•  Chimney Group AB –  
Non-Executive Director
•  LIVR Limited –  

Non-Executive Director

Committee

A NR

Key strengths
•  Strong experience in the 

industrial, high tech/telecom and 
insurance sectors

•  Wealth of knowledge in strategy
•  Experience in international 

business

Previous experience
•  McKinsey & Company  
– Director Emeritus 

Chairman 

External commitments
•  V-Nova International Ltd – 
•  Telekom Malaysia –  
•  Orthox Ltd –  
Non-Executive Director
•  Association of international 

Non-Executive Director

Certified Professional Accountants 
– Board Member 
•  King’s College London 

Mathematics School – Chairman

Committee

A

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017GOVERNANCE31

Committee key

A  Audit Committee
NR  Nomination and 

Remuneration Committee

  Member
  Chairman

Ian Wheeler
Independent
Non-Executive Director

David Williams
Chief Financial Officer

Year appointed
2015

Year appointed
2015

Key strengths
•  Responsible at Tungsten for 
Finance, HR, Procurement, 
Facilities and Investor Relations
•  Over 19 years’ proven track record 
•  Strong financial control & reporting 
•  Executed significant organisational 

disciplines

change and rationalisation 
programmes 

Previous experience
•  Ernst & Young – Corporate Finance
•  FTI Consulting –  
•  Various – senior  
management roles

Public & Private advisor

Key strengths
•  Over 25 years’ industry experience
•  Advisory roles in middle-market 
buyouts, growth buyouts and 
growth capital investment

•  Proven experience in transactional 
platforms in the travel technology 
industry

Previous experience
•  Amadeus IT Group – Group 

Vice President of Marketing & 
Distribution and various

External commitments
•  Travel Technology Firms (various) 
•  Vitruvian Partners –  
Industry Advisor

– Non-Executive Director

Committee

NR

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements32

LEADERSHIP TEAM

Alec Holmes
Senior Vice President,  
Service Delivery

Alec joined the firm in 
2001 and leads Tungsten 
Network’s Service Delivery 
Team which includes Service 
Delivery Management, 
Campaign Management, 
Supplier Onboarding, 
Implementation and Support. 
Alec oversees teams in 
London, Atlanta, Kuala 
Lumpur and Sofia.

Richard Hurwitz
Chief Executive Officer

Patrick Clark
General Counsel

David Williams
Chief Financial Officer

As CEO of Tungsten 
Corporation, Rick leads the 
high-performance team 
directing Tungsten’s growth. 
Rick is also a member 
of Tungsten’s Board of 
Directors. He has 30 years 
of experience transforming 
operations and developing 
growth strategies for 
financial services and 
technology companies. Prior 
to Tungsten, he was Chief 
Executive of Pictometry 
International, where he led 
a strategic transformation 
that positioned the firm for 
success in the changing 
geospatial industry. 
Previously, he was a partner 
at Aegis Investment Partners, 
a private investment 
firm, a Managing Partner 
with Bancorp Services 
and the CEO of Bridge 
Information Systems 
European operations.

Patrick leads the legal and 
compliance function and also 
serves as Company Secretary 
for Tungsten Corporation. 
Prior to joining Tungsten, 
Patrick was a Partner and 
Head of the UK Telecoms 
Practice at the law firm 
Taylor Wessing, specialising 
in providing commercial and 
regulatory advice to clients 
in the technology, media and 
telecoms sector. He also 
previously worked at Alcatel-
Lucent as Lead Corporate 
Counsel for North Europe.

David joined Tungsten 
Corporation in 2013 and is 
now CFO. David is also a 
member of Tungsten’s Board 
of Directors. At Tungsten, 
David is responsible for 
Finance, Human Resources, 
Procurement, Facilities 
and Investor Relations. 
Prior to joining Tungsten, 
David served as a finance 
executive with multiple firms. 
He also spent five years at 
FTI Consulting, advising 
organisations in both the 
public and private sector 
on corporate finance and 
restructuring. Previously, 
he was with the Corporate 
Finance division of Ernst 
& Young. David received 
his training as a Chartered 
Accountant while at Arthur 
Andersen and is a Fellow 
of the ICAEW.

Connie O’Brien
Chief Marketing Officer

As CMO, Connie leads our 
Digital Command Centre 
and is responsible for the 
Tungsten Network brand 
and ensuring the firm is at 
the forefront of the digital 
transformation of the 
purchase-to-pay process, 
with a focus on how we 
engage with our customers 
through automated, scalable, 
dynamic and personalised 
experiences. Connie joined 
Tungsten from Affinion Group, 
an international membership 
and loyalty company where 
she was Chief Digital Officer. 
She has 30 years’ experience 
positioning brands with 
over 20 of those years 
implementing marketing 
strategies for businesses, and 
has led campaigns for brands 
including GlaxoSmithKline, 
P&G, Kraft Foods, AXA, John 
Hancock, AT&T, Vonage 
and Verizon.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017GOVERNANCE33

Guy Miller
Head of Corporate 
Development

Brian Proffitt
Chief Technology Officer

Prabhat Vira
President, Tungsten 
Network Finance

Kevin Wilbur
Senior Vice President,  
AP Automation

As CTO, Brian is responsible 
for delivering a fast, efficient, 
digital, end-to-end experience 
for our customers. Before 
joining Tungsten in 2015, 
Brian held Board-level 
technology roles in a 
variety of industries. Most 
recently, he was CTO in the 
UK Cabinet Office where he 
was responsible for creating 
the digital strategy for 
transforming procurement 
across the UK Government. 
He previously held CIO/CTO 
roles at BT, Corus, Marsh, 
Prudential and Cargill. In 
between, he spent four years 
at PA Consulting, a strategy 
firm, working in the CIO 
role at Corus and at British 
Airways, where he was Head 
of Technology Innovation.

Prabhat joined Tungsten in 
2016 with responsibility for 
offering our clients innovative 
supply chain financing 
alternatives that utilise 
our data and technology. 
Prabhat brings to Tungsten 
deep trade finance expertise 
and broad global business 
experience. He joined 
from HSBC, where he was 
Global Head of Strategic 
Transformation (Trade & 
Receivables Finance), and, 
earlier, Regional Head 
of Trade & Receivables 
Finance. Previously, he held 
leadership roles in structured 
finance, commodities finance 
and corporate banking for 
Royal Bank of Scotland and 
ABN AMRO.

Kevin is responsible for 
the enterprise sales, 
account management, and 
implementation efforts 
that ensure our customers’ 
success. With more than 
25 years’ experience of 
leading teams within fast 
paced, high growth, global 
technology and financial 
services companies, Kevin 
has strong insight into the 
power of electronic invoicing 
and procurement analytics 
to transform supply chains, 
and is responsible for the 
expansion of digital invoicing, 
workflow and analytics 
capabilities across Tungsten’s 
global customer base.

Guy is responsible for 
building new products and 
services adjacent to our 
existing e-invoicing and 
invoice financing businesses. 
He is also responsible for 
other corporate development 
initiatives, and for M&A. Guy 
has significant experience 
in strategy, corporate 
development and M&A. 
Most of his career has 
been spent in investment 
banking, including two years 
with a leading independent 
corporate finance advisory 
firm preceded by eight years 
at Royal Bank of Scotland in 
financial institutions, capital 
markets and M&A. Guy had 
previously spent nine years 
at Citigroup and Schroders, 
a predecessor business, in a 
range of investment banking 
roles working with financial 
institutions and fintech firms. 
Immediately prior to joining 
Tungsten he was an advisor 
to a major private equity fund.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements34

COMPOSITION AND INDEPENDENCE  
OF THE BOARD

The composition of the Board has been 
structured to ensure that no one individual 
can dominate its decision-making processes. 
Following the departure of Danny Truell the 
Board consists of six Directors: the Non-
Executive Chairman, two Executive Directors, 
and three Non-Executive Directors. All of the 
Non-Executive Directors are considered to be 
independent. David Benello and Ian Wheeler 
are considered independent, assessed by 
reference to Provision B.1.1 of the Code and 
also the QCA Code. As a consequence of 
holding LTIP Securities Peter Kiernan is not 
considered independent under the Code or 
the QCA Code. However, the Board considers 
Peter Kiernan to be independent in character 
and judgement not withstanding these LTIPs 
and he has accordingly been appointed as 
Senior Independent Director. 

Details of each Director’s experience and 
background are given in their biographies 
on pages 30 and 31. The skill-set and 
experience of Board members is relevant 
for the current position of the Company and 
covers areas including finance, capital raising, 
financial services, banking, pension industry, 
marketing, network platforms and general 
management. 

Appointments to the Board and re-election
The Board has delegated the tasks of 
reviewing Board composition, searching 
for appropriate candidates and making 
recommendations to the Board on 
candidates to be appointed as Directors 
to the Nomination and Remuneration 
Committee. Further details on the role 
of the Remuneration and Nomination 
Committee may be found on page 38.

With regard to re-election of Directors,  
the Company is governed by its Articles  
of Association (‘Articles’). Under the Articles, 
the Board has the power to appoint a Director 
during the year but any person so appointed 
must stand for election at the next Annual 
General Meeting. At each Annual General 
Meeting, one-third (or the number nearest  
to one-third) of the Directors must retire  
from office and, if willing, may offer 
themselves for re-election. 

Governance
David Williams and Ian Wheeler will retire 
and stand for re-election at the next AGM. The 
Board considers that both Directors offering 
themselves for re-election continue to make a 
valuable contribution to the deliberations and 
continue to demonstrate commitment.

Division of responsibilities 
Chairman and Chief Executive
The division of responsibilities between the 
Chairman and Chief Executive have been 
agreed and approved by the Board.

A summary of the main responsibilities  
of each role is given below:

Role of the Chairman
 • Upholding the highest levels of integrity, 
probity and corporate governance 
throughout the Company, particularly at 
Board level
 • Chairing the Board meetings, setting the 
Board agenda and ensuring the Directors 
receive accurate, timely, and clear 
information to enable the Board to make 
sound decisions, monitor effectively and 
promote the success of the Company
 • Facilitating the effective contribution of 

and active engagement of all the Directors 
and ensuring constructive relationships 
between the Non-Executive Directors and 
the Executive Directors

 • Considering succession planning and 
ensuring the composition of the Board 
meets the needs of the business
 • Ensuring the appropriate balance is 
maintained between the interests of 
shareholders and other stakeholders
 • Ensuring the developmental needs  

of the Directors are identified and that 
these needs are met to enable Directors  
to update their skills and knowledge  
of the Group in order to carry out their 
duties as Directors
 • Ensuring the performance of the Board, 
Audit Committee and individual Directors 
are evaluated once a year and acting on 
the results of the evaluation
 • Ensuring effective communication with 
shareholders and other stakeholders  
and ensuring the Board is aware of the 
views of the shareholders

 • Chairing the AGM and other general 

meetings of the Company

Role of the Chief Executive
 • Running of the business of the Group 

within the authorities delegated to him by 
the Board

 • Ensuring implementation across the 

Group of the policies and strategy agreed 
by the Board
 • Leading the development of the Group’s 
future strategy, including identifying and 
assessing opportunities for the growth of 
its business, and putting in place the long-
term capital to support such development

 • Reviewing the performance of the 
businesses, managing and holding 
to account the Executive and senior 
management teams
 • Ensuring the Chairman is kept appraised 
in a timely manner of the issues facing 
the Group and of any events and 
developments
 • Ensuring the market and regulators are 
kept appraised in a timely manner of any 
material events and developments
 • Ensuring that all major transactions  
are conducted with the commercial 
interests of the Group at the forefront  
of negotiations, commensurate with the 
need to always treat customers fairly

Senior Independent Director
Peter Kiernan is the Senior Independent 
Director (SID). The SID’s role is to act as a 
sounding board for the Chairman and serve 
as an intermediary for the other Directors 
when necessary. The SID will meet other Non-
Executive Directors without the Chairman 
present at least once a year to appraise the 
Chairman’s performance, taking into account 
the views of Executive Directors.

The SID is also available to shareholders 
should they wish to discuss concerns they 
have failed to resolve through the normal 
channels of Chairman, Chief Executive Officer 
or Executive Directors or for which such 
contact is inappropriate.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017GOVERNANCE35

Board 
meetings
4/4
4/4
4/4
4/4
4/4
4/4
4/4

Audit
Committee
3/3
–
3/3
3/3
–
–
–

Nomination and
Remuneration
Committee
3/3
–
–
3/3
–
2/3
–

All Directors are expected to attend all 
meetings of the Board and any Committees 
of which they are members, and to devote 
sufficient time to the Company’s affairs 
to fulfil their duties as Directors. Where 
Directors are unable to attend a meeting, they 
are encouraged to submit any comments on 
paper to be considered at the meeting to the 
Chairman in advance to ensure that their 
views are recorded and taken into account 
during the meeting.

Directors are encouraged to question and 
voice any concerns they may have on any 
topic put to the Board for debate. The Board is 
supported in its work by Board Committees, 
which are responsible for a variety of tasks 
delegated by the Board. There is also an 
Executive Committee composed of the CEO 
and CFO and representatives from senior 
management whose responsibilities are to 
implement the decisions of the Board and 
review the key business objectives and status 
of projects.

Attendance at Board and Committee meetings 
by the Directors is shown above. In addition 
there were eight ad hoc Board meetings  
and Board Committee meetings, to approve 
share awards and transactional issues  
at short notice.

Non-Executive Directors
Each of the Non-Executive Directors has 
entered into a letter of appointment with the 
Company. The appointment of each of the 
Non-Executive Directors is stated to be for 
a fixed term, expiring after 12 months of the 
date of renewal or appointment. The Non- 
Executive Directors’ letters of appointment 
set out the duties of the Director and 
commitment expected. They are expected to 
commit around 24 days per annum to their 
role. Key elements of the Non-Executive 
Director’s role are to constructively challenge 
and help provide the Board with effective 
leadership in relation to the Company’s 
strategy, performance, risk and people 
management, and ensuring high standards  
of financial probity and corporate governance.

Development, information and support
The Directors are encouraged to attend 
training and continuing professional 
development courses as required. Updates 
are given to the Board on developments in 
governance and regulations at each Board 
meeting. An induction programme is provided 
for any Directors joining during the year. 
Patrick Clark is the Company Secretary and 
supports the Chairman in ensuring that the 
Board receives the information and support  
it needs to carry out its roles.

Directors’ induction
When Directors join the Board they 
receive an induction covering topics such 
as the operation of the Board, Directors’ 
responsibilities, insider dealing, AIM Rules 
and governance documents. Each Director 
also receives an induction pack including 
all of the key Company documents.

Conflicts of interest
Under the Articles, the Directors may 
authorise any actual or potential conflict  
of interest a Director may have and may 
impose any conditions on the Director that 
are felt to be appropriate. Directors are 
not able to vote in respect of any contract, 
arrangement or transaction in which they 
have a material interest and they are not 
counted in the quorum.

A process has been developed to identify any 
of the Directors’ potential or actual conflicts 
of interest. This includes declaring any new 
conflicts before the start of each Board 
meeting.

Board meetings

Nick Parker
Richard Hurwitz
David Benello
Peter Kiernan
Danny Truell1
Ian Wheeler
David Williams

1  Resigned from the Board on 24 May 2017

Performance evaluation
The Chairman considers the operation of  
the Board and performance of the Directors 
on an ongoing basis as part of his duties 
and will bring any areas of improvement he 
considers are needed to the attention of the 
Board. A formal external Board evaluation 
process has recently commenced and 
recommendations arising from this review 
will be considered by the Board in due course.

How the Board operates
The Board meets at regular intervals and 
met six times during the period under review. 
Directors also have contact on a variety of 
issues between formal meetings.

This year the Board moved to a new pattern 
of regular quarterly Board meetings, with  
a standing agenda focusing on key business 
and governance issues. Recent Board 
meetings have included presentations  
from the various parts of the Tungsten 
business, giving the Board greater visibility 
and understanding over the Company’s 
business and the steps being taken to  
execute its strategy.

An agenda and accompanying detailed 
papers; including reports from the Executive 
Directors and other members of senior 
management, are circulated to the Board in 
advance of each Board meeting. All Directors 
have direct access to senior management 
should they require additional information on 
any of the items to be discussed. A calendar 
of matters to be discussed at each meeting 
is prepared to ensure that all key issues are 
captured.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements 
36

COMPOSITION AND INDEPENDENCE  
OF THE BOARD continued

Whistleblowing
The Company has a whistleblowing procedure 
under which staff may report any suspicion 
of fraud, financial irregularity or other 
malpractice to any Executive Director.

Shareholders
The Board is committed to maintaining 
regular and clear communication with its 
shareholders. The Board receives regular 
reports on investor relations matters. 
The Directors are keen to build a mutual 
understanding of objectives with its 
institutional shareholders and a regular 
dialogue with institutional investors has 
been maintained throughout the year. The 
Directors also encourage communications 
with private shareholders and encourage 
their participation in the Company’s Annual 
General Meeting. The Company uses its 
corporate website (www.tungsten-network.
com) to communicate with institutional 
shareholders and private investors. It 
contains the latest announcements, press 
releases, published financial information, 
current projects and other information  
about the Company.

The Annual Report and financial statements 
is a key communication document and is 
also available on the Company’s website. 
This year’s Annual General Meeting of the 
Company will be held on 15 September 2017. 
The Notice of Annual General Meeting will be 
available on the Company’s website at www.
tungsten-network.com. The Notice of Annual 
General Meeting will be sent out at least 20 
working days before the meeting. Separate 
resolutions are provided on each issue so 
that they can be given proper consideration.

Risks throughout the Group are considered 
and reviewed on a regular basis. Risks are 
identified and mitigating actions put into place 
as appropriate. Principal risks identified are 
set out in the Strategic report on pages 24 
to 27. Internal control and risk management 
procedures can only provide reasonable 
and not absolute assurance against material 
misstatement. The internal control procedures 
were in place throughout the financial year 
and up to the date of approval of this report.

Financial and business reporting
The Board seeks to present a fair, balanced 
and understandable assessment of the 
Group’s position and prospects in all half-
year, final and any other ad-hoc reports and 
other information as may be required from 
time to time. The Board receives a number 
of reports, including those from the Audit 
Committee, to enable it to monitor and clearly 
understand the Group’s financial position.

A Disclosure Policy is in place to ensure 
that price-sensitive information is identified 
effectively and all communications with  
the market are released in accordance with 
expected time scales. The Board considers 
that this Annual Report and financial 
statements, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced 
and understandable and provides the 
information necessary for shareholders to 
assess the Company’s performance, business 
model and strategy.

Anti-fraud, bribery and corruption
The Group’s anti-corruption procedures state 
that the Company and its subsidiaries intend 
to conduct business in an honest and ethical 
manner. A zero-tolerance approach is taken 
to bribery and corruption and the Company 
is committed to acting professionally, fairly 
and with integrity in all its business dealings 
and relationships wherever it operates and to 
implementing and enforcing effective systems 
to counter bribery and corruption.

The main activities of the Board during 
the year
There are a number of standing and routine 
items included for review on each Board 
agenda. These include the CEO’s report 
and operations reports, financial reports, 
consideration of reports from the Board 
Committees and investor relations updates. 
In addition key areas put to the Board for 
consideration and review included:
 • Strategy presentations
 • Presentations from various parts of 
 • Consideration of financing structures
 • Approval of annual report and 
 • Review of Budget
 • Going concern and cash flow
 • Briefing and review of conflicts of interest
 • Review of AGM business
 • Market Abuse Regulation Compliance
 • Share Dealing Code
 • Disclosure Policy

financial statements

the business

The Board Committees
There are two Board Committees. These  
are composed of the Chairman and two  
Non-Executive Directors.

Each Board Committee has approved Terms 
of Reference setting out their responsibilities. 
The Terms of Reference were approved and 
reviewed by the Board during the year and 
are available on the Company’s website 
www.tungsten-network.com. Details of the 
operation of the Board Committees are set 
out in their respective reports below. All 
of the Board Committees are authorised 
to obtain, at the Company’s expense, 
professional advice on any matter within  
their Terms of Reference and to have access 
to sufficient resources in order to carry out 
their duties.

Accountability
The Company has in place a system of 
internal financial controls commensurate 
with its current size and activities, which is 
designed to ensure that the possibility of 
misstatement or loss is kept to a minimum. 
These procedures include the preparation 
of management accounts, forecast variance 
analysis and other ad-hoc reports. There are 
clearly defined authority limits throughout 
the Group, including those matters that are 
reserved specifically for the Board.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017GOVERNANCEAUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

Members of the Audit Committee
The Committee consists entirely of  
Non-Executive Directors. The Chairman,  
Peter Kiernan, has extensive financial 
experience and is a Chartered Accountant.
 • Peter Kiernan (Chairman)
 • David Benello
 • Nick Parker

The Audit Committee meets as often as it 
deems necessary but in any case at least 
three times a year, with meetings scheduled 
at appropriate intervals in the reporting  
and audit cycle.

Although only members of the Committee 
have the right to attend meetings, standing 
invitations are extended to the Chief Financial 
Officer who attends meetings as a matter of 
practice. Other non-members may be invited 
to attend all or part of any meeting as and 
when appropriate. The external auditors 
attend a number of meetings and also have 
the opportunity to meet in private with the 
Committee on each occasion. In addition, the 
Chairman of the Audit Committee has regular 
contact with the external auditors throughout 
the year.

Duties
The main duties of the Audit Committee are 
set out in its Terms of Reference and include 
the following:
 • To monitor the integrity of the financial 
statements of the Company, including its 
annual and half-year reports
 • To review and challenge where necessary 
any changes to, and consistency of, 
accounting policies, whether the Company 
has followed appropriate accounting 
standards and made appropriate 
estimates and judgements, taking into 
account the views of the external auditor, 
the going concern assumption and all 
material information presented with the 
financial statements
 • To keep under review the effectiveness 
of the Company’s internal control 
systems (including financial, operational 
and compliance controls and risk 
management) and to review and 
approve the statements to be included 
in the Annual Report concerning internal 
controls and risk management
 • To review the adequacy of the Company’s 

compliance, whistleblowing and 
procedures for detecting fraud

 • To consider and make recommendations 
to the Board, to be put to shareholders 
for approval at the Annual General 
Meeting, in relation to the appointment, 
reappointment and removal of the 
Company’s external auditor

 • To oversee the relationship with the 
external auditor including approval  
of their remuneration, approval of  
their terms of engagement, annual 
assessment of their independence and 
objectivity taking into account relevant 
professional and regulatory requirements 
and the relationship with the auditor as  
a whole, including the provision of any 
non-audit services

 • To meet regularly with the external 

auditor and at least once a year, without 
any Executive Director or other member 
of management present to discuss any 
issues arising from the audit
 • To review and approve the Audit Plan and 

review the findings of the audit

and scope

and risk matrix process

The main activities of the Audit Committee 
during the year
The principal areas of focus for the 
Committee included the following items:
 • Review of the audit plan, process  
 • Review of internal controls and risk  
 • Review of significant issues from the  
 • Going concern and impairment review
 • Approval of management representation 
 • Review of the independence of the  
auditor, review of auditor fees and 
engagement letter
 • Review of the Group’s Insurance 
 • Review of the Audit Committee  

audit report

programme

letter

Terms of Reference

Role of the external auditor
The Audit Committee monitors the 
relationship with the external auditors, 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, to ensure 
that auditors’ independence and objectivity 
are maintained. As part of its review the 
Committee monitors the provision of non-
audit services. The engagement of the 
external audit firm to provide non-audit 
services to the Group can impact on the 
independence assessment, and the Group 
has a policy for the approval of any such 
non-audit services. The policy specifies 
services which cannot be carried out by the 
external auditors and sets the framework 
within which non-audit services may be 
provided. All requests to utilise the external 
auditors for non-audit services must be 
reviewed by the Finance Director and, 
above a certain limit, must be approved 
by the Audit Committee. The breakdown of 
fees between audit and non-audit services 
is provided in Note 7. The Committee also 
has a formal policy on its responsibilities in 
relation to the external auditors. This policy 

37

includes recommendations on appointment, 
tendering, scope and remuneration as well 
as the assessment of external auditors’ 
independence. The PricewaterhouseCoopers 
audit partner was rotated for the year ended 
30 April 2015.

The Committee assesses the independence 
of the external auditors and the effectiveness 
of the external audit process before making 
recommendations to the Board in respect of 
their appointment or reappointment.

In assessing independence and objectivity, 
the Committee considers the level and nature 
of services provided by the external auditors 
as well as the confirmation from the external 
auditors that it has remained independent 
within the meaning of the APB Ethical 
Standards of Auditors.

The Committee’s assessment of the external 
auditor’s independence took into account the 
non-audit services provided during the year. 
The Committee concluded that the nature 
and extent of the non-audit fees did not 
compromise the independence of the auditors.

Having reviewed the auditors’ independence 
and performance the Audit Committee is 
recommending that PricewaterhouseCoopers 
LLP be reappointed as the Company’s 
auditors at the next Annual General Meeting.

Internal audit
Following a review by the Audit Committee 
in the context of the sale of Tungsten Bank, it 
was concluded that an internal audit function 
is not necessary at this time.

Audit process
The external auditors prepare an Audit Plan 
for their review of the full year and half year 
financial statements. The Audit Plan sets out 
the scope of the audit, areas to be targeted 
and audit timetable. This plan is reviewed and 
agreed in advance by the Audit Committee. 
Following their review the auditors presented 
their findings to the Audit Committee for 
discussion. No major areas of concern were 
highlighted by the auditors during the year. 
Significant issues considered by the Audit 
Committee from the audit process included 
impairment of intangible assets.

Peter Kiernan
Chairman of the Audit Committee

24 July 2017

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements38

NOMINATION AND REMUNERATION  
COMMITTEE REPORT

Members of the Nomination and 
Remuneration Committee
The Committee consists of Non-Executive 
Directors as follows:
 • Nick Parker (Chairman)
 • Peter Kiernan
 • Ian Wheeler

The Committee meets at least three times 
a year and at such other times during the 
year as is necessary to discharge its duties. 
Although only members of the Committee 
have the right to attend meetings, other 
individuals, such as the Chief Executive and 
external advisers, may be invited to attend 
for all or part of any meeting.

Duties
The main duties of the Nomination and 
Remuneration Committee are set out in its 
Terms of Reference and include the following:

Remuneration:
 • Setting the remuneration policy for the 
Executive Directors and the Company’s 
Chairman, including pension rights and 
compensation payments
 • In determining such policy, to take into 
account relevant legal and regulatory 
requirements, and the provisions and 
recommendations of the QCA Code,  
the QCA’s Remuneration Committee 
Guide and associated guidance
 • Recommending and monitoring the  
level and structure of remuneration  
for senior management
 • When setting the remuneration policy for 
Executive Directors, to review and have 
regard to pay and employment conditions 
across the Group

 • To review the appropriateness and 
relevance of the remuneration policy
 • To appoint and determine the terms 
of reference for any remuneration 
consultants who advise the Committee
 • To approve the design of and determine 

the targets for any schemes of 
performance related remuneration and 
approve the total remuneration paid under 
such schemes
 • To review the design of all share incentive 
plans for approval by the Board
 • To determine the policy and scope  

of pension arrangements for Executive 
Directors and other designated  
senior executives
 • To oversee any major changes in 

employee benefits structure throughout 
the Group

Diversity
The Group has in place anti-discrimination 
policies and encourages the promotion of 
women into senior management positions. 
This will widen the pool of executives 
from which to make senior appointments. 
The Board believes that appointments to 
the Board should be made relative to a 
number of criteria, including diversity of 
gender, background and personal attributes, 
alongside the appropriate skill set, experience 
and expertise. All appointments take these 
criteria into account.

Nick Parker
Chairman of the Nomination and 
Remuneration Committee

24 July 2017

Nomination:
 • To keep under review the leadership 

needs of the organisation, both executive 
and non-executive, with a view to ensuring 
the continued ability of the organisation to 
compete effectively in the marketplace
 • To keep up to date and fully informed 
about strategic issues and commercial 
changes affecting the Company and the 
market in which it operates

 • To be responsible for identifying and 

nominating for the approval of the Board, 
candidates to fill Board vacancies as and 
when they arise
 • To formulate plans for succession for both 
Executive and Non-Executive Directors and 
in particular for the key roles of Chairman 
and Chief Executive

 • To assess the reappointment of any 

Non-Executive Director at the conclusion 
of their specified term of office having 
given due regard to their performance 
and ability to continue to contribute to the 
Board in light of the knowledge, skills and 
experience required
 • To assess the re-election by shareholders 
of any Director having due regard to their 
performance and ability to continue to 
contribute to the Board in light of the 
knowledge, skills and experience required 
and the need for progressive refreshing of 
the Board

plan rules

The main activities of the Nomination and 
Remuneration Committee during the year
 • Consideration of Executive Directors’ 
bonuses and criteria for the year
 • Review of Executive Directors’ salaries
 • Review of the share option plans and  
 • Approval of award of shares under the 
Company share option plans schemes
 • Preparation for review of total 
remuneration packages of the  
Executive Directors
 • Succession planning
 • Consideration of continuing training  

needs for Directors and induction course 
for new Directors

 • Board balance
 • Re-election of Directors at the AGM
 • Review of Terms of Reference
 • Review of Board composition for  
 • Appointment of external advisers to 
conduct a Board effectiveness review

Group companies

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017GOVERNANCE39

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT

The following disclosures are made to support the Board’s goals of working 
towards best practice governance standards as an AIM company and to promote 
transparency about how our Directors are rewarded.

The Nomination and Remuneration Committee
The Board has delegated certain responsibilities for executive remuneration to the Nomination and Remuneration Committee. Details of the 
Nomination and Remuneration Committee, its remit and activities are set out on page 38.

The Nomination and Remuneration Committee is, among other things, responsible for setting the remuneration policy for Executive Directors 
and the Chairman and recommending and monitoring the level and structure of remuneration for senior management.

Remuneration policy
In formulating remuneration policy for the Executive Directors the Nomination and Remuneration Committee considers a number of factors 
designed to:
 • have regard to the Director’s experience and the nature and complexity of their work in order to pay a competitive salary, in line with 
 • reflect the Director’s personal performance; and
 • link individual remuneration packages to the Group’s long-term performance and continued success of the Group through the award of 

comparable companies, that attracts and retains Directors of the highest quality;

annual bonuses and share-based incentive schemes.

The objective of the remuneration policy is to promote the long-term success of the Company, having regard to the views of shareholders  
and stakeholders.

Executive Directors
Current components of the Executive Directors’ remuneration are base salary, annual bonus and share-based incentive schemes.

Base salary
Base salary is reviewed annually by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee. There was no increase in salary for 2016 or 2017.

Annual bonus
The Nomination and Remuneration Committee has agreed performance conditions for the annual bonuses of the Executive Directors based on 
the achievement of certain financial and operational KPIs. All Executive Directors have performance conditions relating to the profitable growth 
of the Group and the increase in volume of invoices processed by Tungsten Network. Each Executive Director has additional performance 
conditions relevant to their own areas of responsibility including cost control.

Other benefits
A range of benefits may be provided including private medical insurance, life assurance, long-term disability insurance, general employee 
benefits and travel and related expenses. The Nomination and Remuneration Committee also retains the discretion to offer additional benefits as 
appropriate, such as assistance with relocation, tax equalisation and overseas tax advisory fees.

Service agreements and termination payments
Details of the Executive Directors’ service agreements are set out below.

Director
Richard Hurwitz
David Williams

Date of contract
1 January 2016
17 March 2015

Unexpired term
Rolling contract
Rolling contract

Notice period by Company
12 months
12 months

Notice period by Director
6 months
6 months

The Executive Directors may be put on gardening leave during their notice period, and the Company can elect to terminate their employment  
by making a payment in lieu of notice of up to the applicable notice period.

Employees’ pay
Employees’ pay and conditions across the Group are considered when reviewing remuneration policy for Executive Directors.

Non-Executive Directors
The remuneration payable to Non-Executive Directors (other than the Chairman) is decided by the Chairman and Executive Directors.

Fees are designed to ensure the Company attracts and retains high calibre individuals. They are reviewed on an annual basis and account is 
taken of the level of fees paid by other companies of a similar size and complexity. Non-Executive Directors do not participate in any annual 
bonus, share options or pension arrangements. The Company repays the reasonable expenses that Non-Executive Directors incur in carrying  
out their duties as Directors.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements40

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT 
continued

Terms of appointment
The terms of appointment for the Non-Executive Directors are shown below.

Director
David Benello
Peter Kiernan
Nick Parker
Ian Wheeler

Date of letter of appointment
24 September 2015
16 October 2014
13 May 2015
24 September 2015

Term
12 months
12 months
12 months
12 months

Notice
N/A
3 months by either side
N/A
N/A

Annual remuneration report
The annual remuneration report sets out details of Directors’ remuneration payments during the year and information in respect of share 
awards and Directors’ shareholdings.

Directors’ remuneration table (audited)

Director
Executive Directors
Richard Hurwitz1
David Williams
Non-Executive Directors
David Benello2
Peter Kiernan
Nick Parker3
Danny Truell4
Ian Wheeler5

Base salary 
£’000

Benefits in kind 
£’000

Pensions  
£’000

Annual 
performance 
bonus  
£’000

Total  
FY2017  
£’000

Total  
FY2016  
£’000

424
210

60
80
138
60
60

139
1

–
–
–
–
–

43
–

–
–
–
–
–

339
25

–
–
–
–
–

945
236

60
80
138
60
60

648
290

30
90
207
80
30

Notes:
1  Base salary of $550,000. This translated to £351,000 in FY16 and £424,000 in FY17. Benefits in kind reflect expatriate costs
2  Appointed as a Director 24 September 2015
3  £100,000 as Chairman of Tungsten Corporation and £38,000 as Non-Executive Director of Tungsten Bank from the period until his resignation from the Board of Tungsten Bank on 21 December 2016
4  Resigned as a Director 24 May 2017
5  Appointed as a Director 24 September 2015

Share option schemes (audited)

Director
Rick Hurwitz

Number 
of options 
held as at 
1 May 2016
535,000

David Williams

100,000

Awards granted 
during the year
200,000
455,000
80,000
250,000

Date of grant
26 July 2016
19 September 2016

26 July 2016
19 September 2016

Option price
43.45p
62.7p
43.45p
62.7p

Awards exercised 
during the year
Nil

Balance as at 
30 April 2017
1,190,000

Vesting and 
exercise period
See below

Nil

430,000

See below

Each option grant vests in four tranches over four years from date of grant and is exercisable for 10 years from date of grant.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017GOVERNANCE41

Directors’ interests in the share capital of the Company

Director
Executive Directors
Richard Hurwitz
David Williams1
Non-Executive Directors
David Benello2
Nick Parker2
Peter Kiernan
Danny Truell
Ian Wheeler

Number of ordinary 
shares held on 
1 May 2016

Acquired/disposed 
during the year

Number of ordinary 
shares held on 
30 April 2017

Percentage of issued 
share capital in issue on 
30 April 2017

664,000
3,200

–
350,000
194,699
1,247,802
–

50,000
100,000

250,000
450,000
–
–
–

714,000
103,000

250,000
800,000
194,699
1,247,802
–

0.57%
0.08%

0.2%
0.63%
0.15%
0.99%
–

1  Represents 3,200 shares held by his son and 100,000 shares held in his SIPP
2  Shares held in respective SIPPs

LTIP (audited)
Pursuant to the LTIP, in FY2013 Peter Kiernan, along with certain former Directors and other individuals, acquired interests in the B ordinary 
shares (the ‘LTIP Shares’) and C ordinary shares (the ‘LTIP Securities’) of Tungsten Corporation Guernsey Limited, a subsidiary of the Company. 

The LTIP Shares were all exchanged into ordinary shares of the Company as part of the admission process. 

The LTIP Securities are exchangeable into ordinary shares of the Company once the price per ordinary share of the Company has reached 
(for any 20 trading days out of 30 successive trading days, the last of such days falling not less than five and not more than 10 years following 
admission) a closing price equal to the price resulting from applying an equivalent of a compound rate of return from the date of the admission 
to the adjusted issue price equal to 8.25% per annum accrued daily and compounded quarterly.

Director
David Benello
Richard Hurwitz
Peter Kiernan
Nick Parker
Danny Truell
Ian Wheeler
David Williams

Number of shares 
held as at  
1 May 2016
–
–
72,915
–
526,400
–
–

Acquired/(disposed)  
during the year
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

Number of shares 
held as at  

30 April 2017
–
–
72,915
–
526,400
–
–

Nick Parker
Chairman of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee

24 July 2017

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements42

DIRECTORS’ REPORT

The Directors of Tungsten Corporation plc present their report for the year ended 30 April 2017. Particulars of important events affecting the 
Company and its subsidiaries and likely future developments may be found in the Strategic Report on pages 6 to 27.

Directors
Biographical details of the Directors currently serving on the Board and their dates of appointment are set out on pages 30 and 31.

The Directors who served throughout the year are as follows:

Executive Directors
Rick Hurwitz
David Williams

1  Resigned from the Board 24 May 2017

Non-Executive Directors
David Benello
Peter Kiernan
Nick Parker
Danny Truell1
Ian Wheeler

The Company’s approach to the appointment and replacement of Directors is governed by its Articles of Association (together with relevant 
legislation) and takes into consideration any recommendations of the UK Code.

Subject to any restrictions in its Articles of Association and the Companies Act 2006, the Directors may exercise any powers which are not 
reserved for exercise by the shareholders.

Results and dividend
Results for the year ended 30 April 2017 are set out in the consolidated income statement on page 47. The Company has no distributable 
reserves to declare a dividend for the year ended 30 April 2017.

Change of control/significant agreements
Should the Company be subject to a change of control, the following represents the likely effects on significant agreements:
 • The LTIP Securities will become exchangeable into ordinary shares in Tungsten, with a value equal to 15% of the increase in the actual 

market capitalisation of Tungsten since admission, subject to:
1.  The value of Tungsten having risen by over 8.25% per annum since admission (the ‘Threshold Price’); and
2a. Where the change of control results from, or triggers, an offer to holders of the ordinary shares of the Company, that offer being at an 

equivalent price per ordinary share of the Company equal to (or greater than) the Threshold Price; or

2b. Where the change of control results from, or in, the removal of either of Danny Truell or Edmund Truell (the Founders) from the Board  
of the Company, and the Threshold Price having been previously reached for any 20 trading days out of 30 successive trading days
 • Richard Hurwitz’s executive service agreement provides that in the event that he resigns within six months of a change of control he will 

entitled to receive 18 months’ salary and bonus

Other than the above the Company does not have any agreements with any Non-Executive Director, Executive Director or employee requiring 
compensation for loss of office resulting from a change of control.

Articles of Association
Any amendments to the Articles of Association of the Company may be made by Special Resolution of the shareholders.

Share capital
Details of the Company’s share capital are set out in Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements. The Company’s share capital consists of 
one class of ordinary shares that do not carry rights to fixed income. As at 30 April 2017, there were 126,069,397 ordinary shares of £0.00438p 
each in issue. Ordinary shareholders are entitled to receive notice and to attend and speak at general meetings.

Each shareholder present in person or by proxy (or by duly authorised corporate representatives) has, on a show of hands, one vote. On a poll, 
each shareholder present in person or by proxy has one vote for each share held.

Other than the general provisions of the Articles (and prevailing legislation) there are no specific restrictions of the size of a holding or on the 
transfer of the ordinary shares.

The Directors are not aware of any agreements between holders of the Company’s shares that may result in the restriction of the transfer of 
securities or on voting rights. No shareholder holds securities carrying any special rights or control over the Company’s share capital.

Authority to purchase own shares
The Company was authorised by shareholder resolution at the 2016 Annual General Meeting to purchase up to 10% of its issued share capital.  
A resolution will be proposed at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting and authority sought to purchase up to 10% of its issued share capital. 
Under this authority, any shares purchased must be held as treasury shares or, otherwise, cancelled resulting in a reduction of the Company’s 
issued share capital.

No shares were purchased by the Company during the year.   

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017GOVERNANCE43

Directors’ interests
The number of ordinary shares of the Company in which the Directors are beneficially interested at 30 April 2017 is set out in the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report on pages 39 to 41.

Director indemnities and insurance
In accordance with the Companies Act 2006 and the Company’s Articles of Association, the Company has purchased Directors’ and Officers’ 
Liability Insurance which remains in place at the date of this report. The Company reviews its insurance policies on an annual basis in order to 
satisfy itself that its level of cover remains adequate.

The Directors are also indemnified under the Articles of Association of the Company.

Significant shareholders
As at 7 July 2017, the latest practicable date prior to publication, Tungsten is aware of the following holdings of significant shareholders in 
the Company (as defined in the AIM Rules). These figures are based on its most recent analysis of shareholders as at 7 July 2017, and other 
notifications to the Company. For clarity, shareholdings are shown separately from holdings in financial instruments, where disclosed.

Odey Asset Management
Mr. Edmund Truell1
Indus Capital Partners
Artemis Investment Management
Hadron Capital
Morgan Stanley
TBF Global Asset Management
Hargreaves Lansdown Asset Management

Shareholdings as at  
7 July 2017

Financial instruments  
notified since  
1 January 2016

Total

Shares

%

Number2

21,087,082
17,466,388
11,506,104
9,345,000
7,177,185
5,591,203
4,749,829
4,174,995

16.73
13.85
9.13
7.41
5.69
4.44
3.77
3.31

3,428,5183
4,188,6974
1,366,4465
–
360,7006
–
–
–

%

2.72
3.32
1.08
–
0.29
–
–
–

Holdings

24,515,600
21,655,085
12,872,550
9,345,000
7,537,885
5,591,203
4,749,829
4,174,995

%

19.45
17.18
10.21
7.41
5.98
4.44
3.77
3.31

1  Edmund Truell’s holdings disclosed above represent both his direct and indirect holdings including investments via Disruptive Capital Investments Limited
2   Total voting rights, or share equivalent
3  Holding notified on 10 January 2017
4   CFD over 4,188,697 shares, and Loan Facility over 6,000,000 shares, notified on 19 October 2016
5   Swap notified on 7 April 2016
6   CFD notified on 25 July 2016

Financial risk management
The Company’s objectives and policies on financial risk management including information on the exposure of the Company to credit risks, 
liquidity risks and capital management risks are set out in Note 21 to the financial statements and in the managing Group Principal Risks and 
Uncertainties Section on pages 24 to 27.

Political donations
The Company has made no political donations during the year.

Going concern statement
The Audit Committee reviewed financial forecasts provided by management, including sensitivity analysis, to assess downside risk and  
its reasonable possible impact on committed liquidity. In addition, the Committee reviewed detailed reporting from the external auditor.  
The Committee concluded, taking into account reasonable possible changes in trading performance and possible mitigating actions, that the 
Group has sufficient committed liquidity to fund its committed expenditure.

Audit
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has expressed their willingness to continue in office as auditors and a resolution seeking to reappoint them will be 
proposed at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

Annual General Meeting
The Company’s Annual General Meeting will be held at 2pm on 15 September 2017 at the offices of Ashurst LLP, Broadwalk House, 5 Appold Street, 
London EC2A 2HA. Details of the venue and the resolutions to be proposed are set out in a separate Notice of Meeting which accompanies this report.

This report was approved by the Board of Directors of Tungsten Corporation PLC and signed by order of the Board:

Patrick Clark
General Counsel and Company Secretary 

24 July 2017

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements44

STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

The Directors are responsible for keeping 
adequate accounting records that are 
sufficient to show and explain the Company’s 
transactions and disclose with reasonable 
accuracy at any time the financial position 
of the Company and the Group and enable 
them to ensure that the financial statements 
and the Directors’ Remuneration Report 
comply with the Companies Act 2006 and, 
as regards the Group financial statements, 
Article 4 of the IAS Regulation. They are also 
responsible for safeguarding the assets of the 
Company and the Group and hence for taking 
reasonable steps for the prevention and 
detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Directors are responsible for the 
maintenance and integrity of the Company’s 
website. Legislation in the UK governing the 
preparation and dissemination of financial 
statements may differ from legislation in 
other jurisdictions.

The Directors consider that the Annual 
Report and Accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, 
balanced and understandable and provides 
the information necessary for shareholders to 
assess the Company’s performance, business 
model and strategy.

The Directors are responsible for 
preparing the Annual Report, the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report and the financial 
statements in accordance with applicable  
law and regulations.

Company law requires the Directors to 
prepare financial statements for each 
financial year. Under that law the Directors 
have prepared the Group and Parent 
Company financial statements in accordance 
with International Financial Reporting 
Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the 
European Union. Under company law the 
Directors must not approve the financial 
statements unless they are satisfied that 
they give a true and fair view of the state of 
affairs of the Group and the Company and of 
the profit or loss of the Group for that period. 
In preparing these financial statements, the 
Directors are required to:
 • select suitable accounting policies  
and then apply them consistently;
 • make judgements and accounting 
estimates that are reasonable  
and prudent;
 • state whether applicable IFRSs as 

adopted by the European Union have 
been followed, subject to any material 
departures disclosed and explained in the 
financial statements;

 • prepare the financial statements on 
the going concern basis unless it is 
inappropriate to presume that the 
Company will continue in business.

Each of the Directors, whose names and 
functions are listed in the Directors’ Report, 
confirm that, to the best of their knowledge:
 • the Parent Company financial statements, 
which have been prepared in accordance 
with IFRSs as adopted by the European 
Union, give a true and fair view of the 
assets, liabilities, financial position and 
loss of the Company;
 • the Group financial statements, which 
have been prepared in accordance with 
IFRSs as adopted by the European Union, 
give a true and fair view of the assets, 
liabilities, financial position and loss of the 
Group; and
 • the Annual Report includes a fair review 
of the development and performance 
of the business and the position of the 
Group and Parent Company, together with 
a description of the principal risks and 
uncertainties that it faces.

In the case of each Director in office at the 
date the Directors’ Report is approved:
 • so far as the Director is aware, there is 

no relevant audit information of which the 
Group and Parent Company’s auditors are 
unaware; and

 • they have taken all the steps that  

they ought to have taken as a Director in 
order to make themselves aware of any 
relevant audit information and to establish 
that the Group and Parent Company’s 
auditors are aware of that information. 

Patrick Clark
General Counsel and Company Secretary 

24 July 2017

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017GOVERNANCEINDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT  
to the members of Tungsten Corporation plc

45

Report on the Group financial statements
Our opinion
In our opinion, Tungsten Corporation plc’s 
Group financial statements (the “financial 
statements”):
 • give a true and fair view of the state  

of the Group’s affairs as at 30 April 2017 
and of its loss and cash flows for the  
year then ended;

 • have been properly prepared in 

accordance with International Financial 
Reporting Standards (“IFRSs”) as adopted 
by the European Union; and

 • have been prepared in accordance  

with the requirements of the Companies 
Act 2006.

What we have audited
The financial statements, included within  
the Annual Report and Financial Statements 
(the “Annual Report”), comprise:
 • the Consolidated Statement of Financial 
 • the Consolidated Income Statement and 

Position as at 30 April 2017;

for the year then ended;

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive 
Income for the year then ended;
 • the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows 
 • the Consolidated Statement of Changes in 
Equity for the year then ended; and
 • the notes to the financial statements, 
which include a summary of significant 
accounting policies and other  
explanatory information.

Certain required disclosures have been 
presented elsewhere in the Annual Report, 
rather than in the notes to the financial 
statements. These are cross-referenced  
from the financial statements and are 
identified as audited.

The financial reporting framework that 
has been applied in the preparation of the 
financial statements is IFRSs as adopted by 
the European Union, and applicable law.

In applying the financial reporting framework, 
the Directors have made a number of 
subjective judgements, for example in respect 
of significant accounting estimates. In making 
such estimates, they have made assumptions 
and considered future events.

Opinions on other matters prescribed  
by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken 
in the course of the audit:
 • the information given in the Strategic 
Report and the Directors’ Report for 
the financial year for which the financial 
statements are prepared is consistent with 
the financial statements; and

 • the Strategic Report and the Directors’ 

Report have been prepared in accordance 
with applicable legal requirements.

In addition, in light of the knowledge 
and understanding of the Group and its 
environment obtained in the course of the 
audit, we are required to report if we have 
identified any material misstatements in the 
Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report. 
We have nothing to report in this respect.

Other matters on which we are required  
to report by exception
Adequacy of information and  
explanations received
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are 
required to report to you if, in our opinion,  
we have not received all the information  
and explanations we require for our audit.  
We have no exceptions to report arising from 
this responsibility. 

Directors’ remuneration
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are 
required to report to you if, in our opinion, 
certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration 
specified by law are not made. We have 
no exceptions to report arising from this 
responsibility. 

Responsibilities for the financial statements 
and the audit
Our responsibilities and those  
of the Directors
As explained more fully in the Statement of 
Directors’ Responsibilities on page 44, the 
Directors are responsible for the preparation 
of the financial statements and for being 
satisfied that they give a true and fair view.

Our responsibility is to audit and express 
an opinion on the financial statements 
in accordance with applicable law and 
International Standards on Auditing (UK 
and Ireland) (“ISAs (UK & Ireland)”). Those 
standards require us to comply with the 
Auditing Practices Board’s Ethical Standards 
for Auditors.

This report, including the opinions, has 
been prepared for and only for the Parent 
Company’s members as a body in accordance 
with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies 
Act 2006 and for no other purpose. We do not, 
in giving these opinions, accept or assume 
responsibility for any other purpose or to any 
other person to whom this report is shown 
or into whose hands it may come save where 
expressly agreed by our prior consent  
in writing.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements46

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT
to the members of Tungsten Corporation plc continued

What an audit of financial  
statements involves
We conducted our audit in accordance 
with ISAs (UK & Ireland). An audit involves 
obtaining evidence about the amounts and 
disclosures in the financial statements 
sufficient to give reasonable assurance 
that the financial statements are free from 
material misstatement, whether caused  
by fraud or error. This includes an 
assessment of: 
 • whether the accounting policies are 

appropriate to the Group’s circumstances 
and have been consistently applied and 
adequately disclosed; 

 • the reasonableness of significant 
accounting estimates made by the 
Directors; and 

 • the overall presentation of the  

financial statements. 

We primarily focus our work in these areas 
by assessing the Directors’ judgements 
against available evidence, forming our own 
judgements, and evaluating the disclosures in 
the financial statements.

We test and examine information, using 
sampling and other auditing techniques, to 
the extent we consider necessary to provide a 
reasonable basis for us to draw conclusions. 
We obtain audit evidence through testing 
the effectiveness of controls, substantive 
procedures or a combination of both. 

In addition, we read all the financial and 
non-financial information in the Annual 
Report to identify material inconsistencies 
with the audited financial statements and to 
identify any information that is apparently 
materially incorrect based on, or materially 
inconsistent with, the knowledge acquired by 
us in the course of performing the audit. If 
we become aware of any apparent material 
misstatements or inconsistencies we consider 
the implications for our report. With respect 
to the Strategic Report and Directors’ Report, 
we consider whether those reports include 
the disclosures required by applicable  
legal requirements.

Other matter
We have reported separately on the  
Parent Company financial statements of 
Tungsten Corporation plc for the year  
ended 30 April 2017.

Brian Henderson (Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of  
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Accountants and Statutory 
Auditors
London

24 July 2017

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017FINANCIAL STATEMENTSINDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT

to the members of Tungsten Corporation plc continued

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

47

Revenue
Operating expenses
Operating loss

EBITDA

Depreciation and amortisation 
Share-based payment
Other income
Operating loss

Finance income
Finance costs

Net finance income

Loss before taxation

Taxation

Loss for the year from continuing operations

Loss for the year from discontinued operation

Loss for the year

Loss per share (expressed in pence per share):

Basic and diluted loss per share

The notes on pages 52 to 76 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 Year ended 
 30 April  
2016
(re-presented)
(restated)
(note 2) 
 £'000 

25,903
(44,774)
(18,871)

(16,154)
(2,520)
 (478)
 281 
(18,871)

1,387
(1,020)

367

(18,504)
705

(17,799)

 Year ended 
 30 April  
2017 
 £'000 

 31,269 
(46,259)
(14,990)

(11,784)
(2,801)
 (405)
 – 
(14,990)

6,449
(4,153)

2,296

(12,694)
433

(12,261)

Note

4
5

5
6
5

9
9

10

8

(230)

(9,439)

(12,491)

(27,238)

11

(9.91)

(22.02)

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements48

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT  
OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Loss for the year
Other comprehensive (loss)/income:
Currency translation differences

Total comprehensive loss for the year

Items in the statement above are disclosed net of tax.

The notes on pages 52 to 76 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 Year ended 
 30 April  
2017 
 £'000 

 Year ended 
 30 April  
2016
(restated)
(note 2) 
 £'000 

(12,491)

(27,238)

Note

4

(2,709)

(300)

(15,200)

(27,538)

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCONSOLIDATED STATEMENT  
OF FINANCIAL POSITION

Assets
Non-current assets

Intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Trade and other receivables

Total non-current assets

Current assets

Trade and other receivables
Invoice receivables
Cash and cash equivalents
Assets held for sale 

Total current assets

Total assets

Capital and reserves attributable to the equity shareholders of the parent

Share capital
Share premium
Shares to be issued
Merger reserve
Share-based payment reserve
Other reserve
Accumulated losses

Total equity 

Non-current liabilities

Deferred taxation

Total non-current liabilities

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables
Deferred income
Liabilities directly associated with assets held for sale

Total current liabilities

Total liabilities

Total equity and liabilities

49

As at 
30 April 
2017
£'000

Note

As at 
30 April 
2016
(restated)
(note 2)
£'000

As at 
30 April 
2015
(restated)
(note 2)
£’000

12
13
14

14
15
16
8

17
17
20

10

18
19
8

118,452
 1,856 
 469 

116,770
 1,924 
 539 

120,777

119,233

128,126
2,211
624

130,961

8,790
4,304
17,498
 – 

30,592

8,726
–
9,268
 28,737 

46,731

7,783
6,392
32,603
–

46,778

151,369

165,964

177,739

 553 
 188,794 
 3,760 
 28,035 
 5,815 
(8,964)
 (86,663)

 553 
 188,794 
 3,760 
 28,035 
 5,419 
(6,255)
(74,172)

454
171,875
3,760
28,035
5,237
(5,955)
(46,934)

131,330

146,134

156,472

 2,630 

 2,630 

 3,010 

 3,010 

4,006

4,006

9,529
 7,880 
 – 

17,409

20,039

7,490
 8,318 
 1,012 

16,820

19,830

8,628
8,633
–

17,261

21,267

151,369

165,964

177,739

The notes on pages 52 to 76 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

The consolidated financial statements on pages 47 to 76 were authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 24 July 2017 and were signed on 
its behalf by:

Richard Hurwitz 
Chief Executive Officer 

  David Williams
  Chief Financial Officer

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements50

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT  
OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

Year ended 30 April 2017

Balance as at 1 May 2016

553 

188,794 

28,035 

3,760 

5,419 

(6,255)

(74,172)

146,134 

Share  
capital
£'000

Share 
premium
£'000

Merger 
reserve
£'000

Shares  
to be  

issued
£'000

Share-based 
payment 
reserve
£'000

Other 
reserve
(restated)
£'000

Accumulated 
losses
(restated)
£'000

Total  
equity
£'000

Currency translation differences
Loss for the year

Balance as at 30 April 2017 excluding 
transactions with owners

Transactions with owners
Shares issued during the year 
Share-based payment expense

Balance as at 30 April 2017

Year ended 30 April 2016

–
–

–
–

–
–

–
–

–
–

(2,709)
–

–
(12,491)

(2,709)
(12,491)

553 

188,794 

28,035 

3,760 

5,419 

(8,964)

(86,663)

130,934

–
–

–
–

–
–

–
–

–
396 

–
–

–
–

–
396 

553 

188,794 

28,035 

3,760 

5,815 

(8,964)

(86,663)

131,330

Balance as at 1 May 2015

454 

171,875 

28,035 

3,760 

5,237 

(5,955)

(46,934)

156,472 

Share  
capital
£'000

Share 
premium
£'000

Merger 
reserve
£'000

Shares  
to be  
issued
£'000

Share-based 
payment 
reserve
£'000

Other 
reserve
(restated)
£'000

Accumulated 
losses
(restated)
£'000

Total  
equity
(restated)
£'000

Currency translation differences
Loss for the year

Balance as at 30 April 2016 excluding 
transactions with owners

Transactions with owners
Shares issued during the year 
Share-based payment expense

Balance as at 30 April 2016

–
–

–
–

–
–

–
–

–
–

(300)
–

–
(27,238)

(300)
(27,238)

454 

171,875 

28,035 

3,760 

5,237 

(6,255)

(74,172)

128,934

99 
–

16,919 
–

–
–

–
–

–
182 

–
–

–
–

17,018 
182 

553 

188,794 

28,035 

3,760 

5,419 

(6,255)

(74,172)

146,134

The notes on pages 52 to 76 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT  
OF CASH FLOWS

Cash flows from operating activities

Loss before taxation from continuing operations
Loss before taxation from discontinued operation
Adjustments for:
Depreciation and amortisation
Impairment loss provision of trade receivables
Impairment of goodwill
Finance costs
Finance income
Share-based payment expense
Other income 
Cash used in operations

Changes in working capital:

Decrease/(increase) in trade and other receivables
Increase in invoice receivables
Decrease in trade and other payables
Net interest paid
Discontinued operation

Net cash outflow from operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities

Capitalisation of software development costs
Purchases of other intangibles
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
Discontinued operation

Net cash inflow/(outflow) from investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities

Proceeds of shares issued

Net cash inflow from financing activities

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at start of year
Exchange adjustments
Cash and cash equivalents including cash held in disposal group at end of the year
Cash held in the disposal group

51

Year ended
30 April 2017 
£'000

Note

Year ended
30 April 2016  
(restated) 
 £'000 

(12,694)
(230)

(18,504)
(9,439)

4
14
4
9
9
6
4

8

12
13
8

2,801
(262)
–
4,153
(6,449)
 405 
 – 
(12,276)

268
(4,304)
(2,039)
(428)
3,615

2,520
711
6,810
1,020
(1,387)
 478 
 (281)
(18,072)

(1,569)
–
(786)
(307)
(937)

 (15,164)

 (21,671)

 (3,570)
 (503)
 (266)
29,713

25,374

 – 
 (912)
 (255)
 – 

 (1,167)

 – 

– 

 16,721 

 16,721 

10,210
 27,023 
865
38,098
(20,600)

(6,117)
 32,603 
537
27,023
 (17,755)

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year

16

17,498

 9,268 

The notes on pages 52 to 76 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements52

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. General information
Tungsten Corporation plc (the Company) and its subsidiaries (together, the Group) is a global e-invoicing network that also offers supply chain 
financing and spend analytics.

The Company is a public limited company, which is incorporated and domiciled in the UK. The address of its registered office is Pountney Hill 
House, 6 Laurence Pountney Hill, London EC4R 0BL, UK.

2. Accounting policies
(a) Basis of preparation
The consolidated financial statements of Tungsten Corporation plc have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards as adopted by the European Union (IFRSs as adopted by the EU), the Companies Act 2006 that applies to companies reporting under 
IFRS, and IFRS Interpretations Committee (IFRS IC). The principal accounting policies have been applied consistently throughout the year, other 
than as noted in the Prior Year Adjustment section below. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost 
convention. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. Further detail is included within the Report of 
the Directors.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires 
management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies. The areas involving a higher degree of 
judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the consolidated financial statements are disclosed  
in Note 3.

Re-presentation
Final completion of the sale of Tungsten Bank occurred on 21 December 2016. Its results and comparatives are presented as a discontinued 
operation.

Restatement
In accordance with IAS 21, exchange differences arising on the settlement of monetary items or on translating monetary items at rates  
different from those at which they were translated on initial recognition during the period or in previous financial statements should be 
recognised in profit or loss in the period in which they arise. Prior year financial information reflected such exchange differences in ‘other 
comprehensive income’ and ‘other reserves’. Accordingly, prior year financial information has been restated for an amount of £0.6 million  
of net exchange losses to be reclassified from ‘other comprehensive income’ to ‘finance income and expenses’. Opening equity has also been 
corrected to reflect a reclassification of accumulated net income from ‘other reserves’ to ‘accumulated losses’ for an amount of £1.6 million.

(b) New standards, amendments and interpretations adopted
There were no new IFRSs or interpretations issued by the IFRS Interpretation Committee (IFRS IC) that required implementation during the year 
that significantly affects these financial statements.

New standards, amendments and interpretations issued but not yet effective in 2016 and not early adopted:
As at the date of authorisation of these financial statements, the following standards and interpretations were in issue but not yet effective  
(and in some cases had not yet been adopted by the EU). The Group has not applied these standards and interpretations in the preparation  
of these financial statements.
 • Amendment to IAS 16, ‘Property, plant and equipment’ and IAS 38, ‘Intangible assets’ on depreciation and amortisation;
 • Amendment to IAS 10, ‘Consolidated financial statements’ and IAS 28, ‘Investments in associates and joint ventures’;
 • IFRS 15, ‘Revenue from contracts with customers’;
 • IFRS 9, ‘Financial instruments’;
 • Amendments to IFRS 9, ‘Financial instruments’, regarding general hedge accounting;
 • Amendments to IAS 1, ‘Presentation of financial statements’ on the disclosure initiative; and
 • IFRS 16, ‘Leases’.

The impact on the Group’s financial statements of the future adoption of these and other new standards and interpretation is still under review. 
The Group does not expect, with the potential exception of IFRS 15, ‘Revenue from contracts with customers’, that any of these changes will have 
a material effect on the results or net assets of the Group.

There were no other new IFRSs or IFRS IC interpretations that are not yet effective that would be expected to have a material impact on  
the Group.

None of the above standards and interpretations is expected to have a significant impact on the financial reporting of the Group.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017FINANCIAL STATEMENTS53

2. Accounting policies continued
(c) Basis of consolidation
Subsidiaries are those entities over which the Company has the power to govern the financial and operating policies generally accompanying an 
interest of more than one half of the voting rights. Subsidiaries are consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Company 
(acquisition date) and are de-consolidated from the date that control ceases. The financial statements of subsidiaries are prepared for the same 
reporting year as the Company, using consistent accounting policies.

Inter-company transactions, balances, income and expenses on transactions between Group companies are eliminated. Profits and losses 
resulting from inter-company transactions that are recognised in assets are also eliminated.

Accounting policies of subsidiaries have been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the Group.

(d) Revenue services rendered
Revenue is the total amount receivable by the Group for services provided less VAT and trade discounts. 

The Group recognises revenue in respect of e-invoicing related services over the period the services are provided. Where buyer transactions are 
paid for but not processed, such revenue is deferred according to contractual terms representing the anticipated period for transactions being 
processed. Management reviews the historical record of transactions used under each contract and relevant estimates to determine whether the 
deferral period for the revenue recognition is appropriate or any changes to the existing deferral period are required. In relation to transaction 
fees for which no revenue is received, management assesses the expected usage of any unutilised transactions to determine the amount of 
deferred revenue to be recorded.

Revenue is recognised as follows:

Transaction fees are recognised in the period in which the customer transacts unless there is evidence that transactions sold will never be 
utilised in which case revenue is recognised immediately such evidence arises.

Initial fees, annual subscriptions and income from other e-invoicing related services are recognised over the period that the service is provided.

Deferred revenue is recognised to the extent that revenue has been invoiced to customers but not recognised in accordance with the above. 
Deferred revenue is discounted where the time value of money is material.

(e) Employee benefits defined contribution plans
The Group pays contributions to publicly or privately administered pension plans. The Group has no further payment obligations once the 
contributions have been paid. Contributions are recognised in the income statement as an employee benefit expense in the period when they are 
due. Prepaid contributions are recognised as an asset to the extent that a cash refund or a reduction in the future payments is available.

Share-based payments
The Group issues equity-settled and cash-settled share-based awards to certain employees. The fair value of share-based awards is determined 
based on the Black-Scholes model at the date of grant and expensed, based on the Group’s estimate of the shares that will eventually vest, on 
a straight-line basis over the vesting period with a corresponding increase in equity. At each balance sheet date, the Group revises its estimates 
of the number of options that are expected to vest based on service and other non-market performance conditions. The amount expensed is 
adjusted over the vesting period for changes in the estimate of the number of shares that will eventually vest, save for changes resulting from 
any market-related performance conditions.

Equity-settled share-based payments are recognised as an expense in profit or loss with a corresponding credit to share option reserve.  
Cash-settled share-based payments are recognised as an expense in profit or loss with a corresponding credit to liabilities.

(f) Foreign currency translation
The functional currency of the Company is pound sterling as that is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the Company 
operates. The Group’s presentation currency is pound sterling.

Transactions and balances
Foreign currency transactions are translated into sterling using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions. Foreign exchange 
gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation at year-end exchange rates of monetary assets and 
liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognised in the consolidated income statement.

Foreign exchange gains and losses that relate to borrowings and cash and cash equivalents are presented in the consolidated income  
statement within finance income or costs. All other foreign exchange gains and losses are presented in the consolidated income statement  
within ‘operating expenses’.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements54

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued

2. Accounting policies continued
(f) Foreign currency translation continued
Group companies
The results and financial position of all the Group entities (none of which has the currency of a hyperinflationary economy) that have a functional 
currency other than sterling are translated into sterling as follows:
 • Assets and liabilities for each balance sheet presented are translated at the closing rate at the date of that balance sheet.
 • Income and expenses for each income statement presented are translated at average exchange rates unless this average is not a reasonable 
approximation of the cumulative effect of the rates prevailing on the transaction dates, in which case income and expenses are translated at 
the rate on the dates of the transactions.

All resulting exchange differences are recognised in other comprehensive income.

The following closing rates were applied for £1: 

United States Dollar
Euro
Mexican Peso
Bulgarian Lev
Malaysian Ringgit
Swiss Franc

As at  
30 April  
2017

As at  
30 April  
2016

1.2949
1.1883
24.3665
2.3224
5.6233
1.2883

1.4611
1.2865
25.2181
2.5167
5.6747
1.4120

(g) Finance income and costs
Finance costs comprise interest payable on borrowings, interest expense on unwinding of discount on deferred income, direct issue costs and 
foreign exchange losses. Finance income comprises interest receivable on funds invested, and foreign exchange gains. Interest income and 
expenses are recognised on a time apportioned basis, using the effective interest method.

(h) Current and deferred income tax
Income tax for the years presented comprises current and deferred tax. Income tax is recognised in profit or loss except to the extent that it 
relates to items recognised directly in equity, in which case it is recognised in equity.

Current tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for the year, using tax rates enacted or substantially enacted at the balance sheet 
date, and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous years.

Deferred tax is provided using the balance sheet liability method, providing for temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets 
and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for taxation purposes.

The following temporary differences are not provided for: the initial recognition of goodwill; the initial recognition of other assets or liabilities 
that affect neither accounting nor taxable profit; nor differences relating to investments in subsidiaries to the extent that they are unlikely to 
reverse in the foreseeable future. The amount of deferred tax provided is based on the expected manner of realisation or settlement of the 
carrying amount of assets and liabilities, using tax rates enacted or substantially enacted at the balance sheet date.

A deferred tax asset is recognised only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the asset can  
be utilised. Deferred tax assets are reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that the related tax benefit will be realised.

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets against current tax 
liabilities and when the deferred income taxes assets and liabilities relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority on either the 
taxable entity or different taxable entities where there is an intention to settle the balances on a net basis.

Deferred income tax is provided on temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries and associates, except for deferred income tax 
liability where the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference is controlled by the Group and it is probable that the temporary difference 
will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

Additional income taxes that arise from the distribution of dividends are recognised at the same time as the liability to pay the related dividend.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017FINANCIAL STATEMENTS55

2. Accounting policies continued
(i) Business combinations
The Group applies the acquisition method to account for business combinations. The consideration transferred for the acquisition of a subsidiary 
is the fair value of the assets transferred, the liabilities incurred to the former owners of the acquiree and the equity interests issued by the 
Group. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination are measured initially at their  
fair values at the acquisition date. The Group recognises any non-controlling interest in the acquiree on an acquisition-by-acquisition basis,  
either at fair value or at the non-controlling interest’s proportionate share of the recognised amounts of acquiree’s identifiable net assets.

Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred.

Any contingent consideration to be transferred by the Group is recognised at fair value at the acquisition date. Subsequent changes to the fair 
value of the contingent consideration that is deemed to be an asset or liability are recognised in the income statement. Contingent consideration 
that is classified as equity is not remeasured and its subsequent settlement is accounted for within equity.

(j) Property, plant and equipment
Owned assets
Items of property, plant and equipment are stated at cost or deemed cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Cost includes 
the original purchase price of the asset and the costs attributable to bringing the asset to its working condition for its intended use. When parts 
of an item of property, plant and equipment have different useful lives, those components are accounted for as separate items of property, plant 
and equipment.

Subsequent costs are included in the asset’s carrying amount or recognised as a separate asset, as appropriate, only when it is probable that 
future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the Group and the cost of the item can be measured reliably.

Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing the proceeds with the carrying amount and are recognised in the income statement.

Leased assets
Leases under which the Group assumes substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of an asset are classified as finance leases. 
Property, plant and equipment acquired under finance leases are recorded at fair value or, if lower, the present value of minimum lease 
payments at inception of the lease, less depreciation and any impairment.

Each lease payment is allocated between the liability and finance charges. The corresponding rental obligations, net of finance charges, are 
included in the other long-term payables. The interest element of the finance cost is charged to the income statement over the lease period so as 
to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability for each period.

Depreciation
Depreciation is charged to the consolidated income statement on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of each part of an item of 
property, plant and equipment. The property, plant and equipment acquired under finance leases are depreciated over the shorter of the useful 
life of the asset and the lease term. The estimated useful lives are as follows:
 • Leasehold improvements: depreciated over term of lease
 • Fixtures and fittings: 25% on cost
 • Computer equipment: 20% to 50% on cost

The residual values and useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at each balance sheet date.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements56

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued

2. Accounting policies continued
(k) Intangible assets 
Goodwill
Goodwill is initially measured as the excess of the aggregate of the consideration transferred and the fair value of non-controlling interest over 
the net identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. If this consideration is lower than the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary 
acquired, the difference is recognised immediately in profit or loss.

Goodwill impairment reviews are undertaken annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate a potential impairment. 
The carrying value of goodwill is compared to the recoverable amount of the cash generating unit to which the goodwill has been allocated, 
which is the higher of value in use and the fair value less costs of disposal. Any impairment is recognised immediately as an expense and is not 
subsequently reversed.

Non-financial assets purchased or acquired in a business combination
Customer relationships and the IT platform purchased or acquired in a business combination are recognised at fair value at the acquisition date. 
The customer relationships and IT platform have finite useful lives and are carried at cost less accumulated amortisation.

Amortisation on the assets is calculated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives as follows:

Customer relationships
IT platform

Estimated 
useful lives 
(years)

20
7

Computer software
Costs associated with maintaining computer software programmes are recognised as an expense as incurred. Development costs that are 
directly attributable to the design and testing of identifiable and unique software products controlled by the Group are recognised as intangible 
assets when the following criteria are met:
 • It is technically feasible to complete the software product so that it will be available for use
 • Management intends to complete the software product and use or sell it
 • There is an ability to use or sell the software product
 • It can be demonstrated how the software product will generate probable future economic benefits
 • Adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the development and to use or sell the software product are available
 • The expenditure attributable to the software product during its development can be reliably measured.

Development costs for incomplete software are recognised as software development under construction in the balance sheet and are not 
depreciated as these assets are not yet available for use.

Other development expenditures that do not meet these criteria are recognised as an expense as incurred. 

Development costs previously recognised as an expense are not recognised as an asset in a subsequent period.

Computer software development costs recognised as assets are amortised over their estimated useful lives, which does not exceed seven years.

Acquired computer software licences are capitalised on the basis of the costs incurred to acquire and bring to use the specific software. 

Computer software costs are amortised over their estimated useful lives, which does not exceed five years.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
57

(l) Financial instruments
Non-derivative financial instruments
Non-derivative financial instruments comprise investments in equity and debt securities, trade and other receivables, cash and cash equivalents, 
loans and borrowings, and trade and other payables.

Trade and other receivables
Trade and other receivables are recognised initially at fair value. Subsequent to initial recognition they are measured at amortised cost using the 
effective interest method, less any impairment losses.

Invoice receivables
Invoice receivables are recognised initially at fair value. Subsequent to initial recognition they are measured at amortised cost using the effective 
interest method, less any impairment losses.

Trade and other payables
Trade and other payables are recognised initially at fair value. Subsequent to initial recognition they are measured at amortised cost using the 
effective interest method.

Investments in debt and equity securities
Investments in debt and equity securities are stated at amortised cost less impairment. Financial instruments held for trading or designated 
upon initial recognition are stated at fair value, with any resultant gain or loss recognised in profit or loss.

Other investments in debt and equity securities held by the Group are classified as being available-for-sale and are stated at fair value, with any 
resultant gain or loss being recognised directly in equity (in the fair value reserve), except for impairment losses and, in the case of monetary 
items such as debt securities, foreign exchange gains and losses. When these investments are derecognised, the cumulative gain or loss 
previously recognised directly in equity is recognised in profit or loss.

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash balances and call deposits. Bank overdrafts that are repayable on demand and form an integral part 
of the Group’s cash management are included as a component of cash and cash equivalents for the purpose only of the cash flow statement.

Interest-bearing borrowings are recognised initially at fair value less attributable transaction costs. Subsequent to initial recognition, interest-
bearing borrowings are stated at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment losses.

Derivative financial instruments and hedging 
At 30 April 2017 and 30 April 2016, the Group had no derivatives in place for cash flow hedging purposes.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements58

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued

2. Accounting policies continued
(m) Impairment of non-financial assets
Assets that have an indefinite useful life are not subject to amortisation and are tested annually for impairment. Assets that are subject 
to amortisation are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be 
recoverable. An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount. The 
recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s fair value less costs to sell and value in use. For the purposes of assessing impairment, assets 
are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are separately identifiable cash flows (cash-generating units). Non-financial assets other than 
goodwill that suffered impairment are reviewed for possible reversal of the impairment at each reporting date.

(n) Prepaid consideration
Deposits paid for acquisitions are held as prepayments until such time as the acquisition is completed (i.e. meets the definition of an acquisition 
under IFRS 3, Business Combinations) or a decision is reached by the Board not to proceed with the acquisition, at which time the deposit is 
either refunded or charged to the income statement if not refundable.

(o) Trade and other receivables
Trade and other receivables are stated initially at fair value and subsequently at their amortised cost less provision for impairment. A provision 
for impairment of receivables is recognised when there is evidence that the Group will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the 
original terms of the receivables. The movement in the provision from the previous reporting period is recognised in the income statement. 
Subsequent recoveries of amounts previously written off are credited against ‘general and administrative expenses’ in the consolidated income 
statement.

(p) Trade and other payables
Trade and other payables are initially stated at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost.

(q) Leases
Operating lease payments are recognised as an expense in the income statement on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

(r) Share capital
Ordinary shares are classified as equity.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017FINANCIAL STATEMENTS59

3. Critical accounting estimates and judgements
The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements and estimates that affect the application of policies  
and reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expenses.

Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future 
events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

The Group makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates will by definition, seldom equal the 
related actual results. The estimates and assumptions that have a significant impact on the financial statements are highlighted below.

Revenue recognition
The Group recognises revenue in respect of e-invoicing related services over the period the services are provided. Where buyer transactions are 
paid for but not processed, such revenue is deferred according to contractual terms representing the anticipated period for transactions being 
processed. Management reviews the historical record of transactions used under each contract and relevant estimates to determine whether the 
deferral period for the revenue recognition is appropriate or any changes to the existing deferral period are required. In relation to transaction 
fees for which no revenue is received, management assesses the expected usage of any unutilised transactions to determine the amount of 
deferred revenue to be recorded.

Going concern
The Group going concern assessment is based on forecasts and projections of anticipated trading performance.

The assumptions applied are subjective and management applies judgement in estimating the probability, timing and value of underlying  
cash flows.

Deferred taxation
The determination of the Group’s deferred tax assets involves judgements for determining the extent of its recoverability at each balance sheet 
date. The Group assesses recoverability with reference to Board approved forecasts of future taxable profits. These forecasts require use of 
assumptions and estimates.

Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets
Goodwill impairment reviews are undertaken annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate a potential impairment. 
The carrying value of goodwill is compared to the recoverable amount of the cash generating unit to which the goodwill has been allocated, 
which is the higher of value in use and the fair value less costs of disposal. Any impairment is recognised immediately as an expense and is not 
subsequently reversed.

An impairment loss on other intangible assets is recognised for the amount by which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable 
amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s fair value less costs to sell and value in use. For the purposes of assessing 
impairment, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are separately identifiable cash flows (cash-generating units).

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements60

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued

4. Segment report
Management have determined the operating segments based on the operating reports reviewed by the Board of Directors that are used 
to assess both performance and strategic decisions. Management has identified that the Board of Directors is the Chief Operating Decision 
Maker (CODM). During the year, Tungsten Bank was disposed and the sale was completed on 21 December 2016. Refer to Note 8, discontinued 
operations, for further information.

The Board of Directors reviews financial information for three segments: Tungsten Network (which includes the e-invoicing and spend  
analytics business of Tungsten Network), Tungsten Network Finance (which includes the supply chain finance business), Tungsten Corporate 
(which includes overheads and general corporate costs). Intersegment revenue from management fees and other intersegment charges are 
eliminated below.

Year ended 30 April 2017

(excluding discontinued operation)

Revenue
Segment revenue

EBITDA1 – excluding non-cash share-based payments 
EBITDA – including non-cash share-based payments

Depreciation, amortisation and impairment
Share-based payment
Finance income
Finance cost
Loss before taxation
Income tax credit

Loss for the year from continuing operations

Loss for the year from discontinued operation

Loss for the year 

Capital expenditure 
Total assets
Total liabilities

1  EBITDA is calculated as earnings before other income, interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation

Tungsten 
Network
£’000

 31,117 
 31,117 

(4,251)
(4,251)

(1,409)
–
5,483
(3,294)
(3,471)

Tungsten 
Network 
Finance
£’000

 152 
 152 

(1,682)
(1,682)

 (93)
 – 
84
 (286)
(1,977)

Corporate
£’000

 – 
 – 

Total
£’000

 31,269 
 31,269 

(5,851)
(6,256)

(11,784)
(12,189)

 (1,299)
(405)
882
 (573)
(7,246)

(2,801)
(405)
6,449
(4,153)
(12,694)
433

(12,261)

(230)

(12,491)

 4,339 
151,369
20,039

 3,737 
133,849
14,960

 – 
5,064
460

 602 
12,456
4,619

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
61

Tungsten 
Network
£’000

 25,889 
 25,889 

 (5,768)
 (5,770)

 (2,259)
 (2)
1,058
(832)
 281 
(7,522)

Tungsten 
Network 
Finance
£’000

 14 
 14 

Corporate
£’000

 – 
 – 

Total
£’000

25,903
25,903

 (3,779)
 (3,779)

 (6,607)
 (7,083)

 (16,154)
 (16,632)

 (89)
 – 
 – 
(185)
 – 
(4,053)

 (172)
 (476)
329
 (3)
 – 
(6,929)

(2,520)
 (478)
1,387
(1,020)
 281 
(18,504)
 705 

(17,799)

 900 
 127,488 
15,862

 31 
 292 
 580 

 66 
 9,447 
 2,376 

997
137,227
18,818

4. Segment report continued
Year ended 30 April 2016

(excluding discontinued operation)

Revenue
Segment revenue

EBITDA1 – excluding non-cash share-based payments 
EBITDA – including non-cash share-based payments

Depreciation, amortisation and impairment
Share–based payment
Finance income
Finance cost
Other income
Loss before taxation
Income tax credit

Loss for the year

Capital expenditure 
Total assets
Total liabilities

Geographical information
The Group’s revenue from external customers and non-current assets by geographical location is detailed below. Revenue by geographical 
location is allocated based on the location in which the sale originated.

United Kingdom
United States of America
Rest of Europe
Malaysia

Total

Revenue from external customers

Year ended  
30 April  
2017
£’000

Year ended  
30 April  
2016
(re-presented)
£’000

 14,712 
 14,273 
 1,320 
 964 

 31,269 

12,714
 11,463 
 1,093 
 633 

25,903

Non-current assets are allocated based on the geographical location of those assets and exclude other financial assets, loans receivables and 
deferred tax.

United Kingdom
United States of America
Malaysia

Total

Non-current assets

As at
30 April 2017
£’000

As at
30 April 2016
£’000

115,715
4,996
 66 

 117,429 
 1,760 
 44 

120,777

 119,233 

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements62

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued

5. Operating expenses 

Staff costs
Professional support
Office accommodation and services
IT costs
Irrecoverable VAT
Amortisation
Depreciation
Other administrative expenses
Setup fees
Other income

Total operating expenses

6. Employee benefit expenses 

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs
Share-based payments

Total employee benefit expenses

Number of employees
The average monthly number of people employed:
Tungsten Network
Tungsten Network Finance
Corporate

Total average headcount

Note

6

12
13

Note

23

5

Year ended

30 April  
2017
£’000

Year ended
30 April 
2016
(re-presented)
£’000

20,720
7,821
 2,331 
 5,830 
 177 
2,451
 350 
6,579
 – 
 – 

46,259

20,314
3,952
2,739
5,932
 16 
2,017
 503 
7,636
 1,946 
(281) 

44,774

Year ended
30 April  
2017
£’000

Year ended
30 April 
2016
(re-presented)
£’000

17,495
1,701
 1,119 
 405 

20,720

17,002
 1,750 
 1,084 
 478 

20,314

Year ended
30 April  
2017

Year ended
30 April 
2016

294
14
19

327

313
10
17

340

Refer to Note 23 for details of remuneration in respect of key management.

7. Auditors’ remuneration
During the year the Group (including overseas subsidiaries) obtained the following services from its auditor and their associates:

Audit of the Parent Company and the consolidated financial statements
Audit-related assurance services
Taxation compliance services
Taxation advisory services
Services relating to corporate finance transactions
All other non-audit services

Total auditors' remuneration

Year ended
30 April  
2017
£’000

Year ended
30 April 
2016
£’000

 188 
 25 
 79 
 199 
 4 
 9 

 504 

 219 
 33 
 37 
 123 
 16 
 282 

 710 

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
63

8. Discontinued operation and assets held for sale
On 16 November 2016, Tungsten announced that the sale of Tungsten Bank had received the regulatory approval with final completion  
of 21 December 2016.

The sale was completed on 21 December 2016 and is reported in the current year as a discontinued operation. The financial performance and 
cash flow information relating to the discontinued operation for the period to the date of disposal is set out below.

The table below shows the financial performance and cash flow information of the discontinued operation which are included in the Group 
income statement and Group cash flow respectively.

Revenue
Operating expenses
Operating loss

EBITDA
Impairment
Operating loss

Finance costs
Loss before taxation
Taxation
Loss for the year
Gain on sale of the subsidiary

Loss from discontinued operation

Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities
Net cash inflow from investing activities (21 December 2016 includes an inflow  
of £29.6m from the sale of the subsidiary)
Net cash outflow from financing activities

Net increase/(decrease) in cash generated by the discontinued operation

Cash and cash equivalent at start of year
Cash held in the disposal group

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year from disposal group

Consideration received
Cost associated with the sale

Carrying amount of net assets sold
Gain on sale before taxation
Taxation

Gain on sale after taxation

Period ended 
 21 December 
2016 
 £'000 

 Year ended 
 30 April  
2016 
 £'000 

 272 
(2,236)
(1,964)

(1,964)
–
(1,964)

 (134)
 (2,098)
–
 (2,098)
1,868

(230)

 180 
(9,584)
(9,404)

(2,594)
 (6,810)
(9,404)

 (35)
 (9,439)
–
 (9,439)
–

 (9,439)

3,615

 (3,836)

29,713
–

33,328

17,755
(20,600)

30,483

–
 (170)

 (4,006)

19,495
(17,755)

(2,266)

Period ended 
 21 December 
2016 
 £'000 

 Year ended 
 30 April  
2016 
 £'000 

 29,635 
(1,042)
28,593
(26,725)
1,868
–

1,868

–
–
–
–
–
–

–

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements64

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued

8. Discontinued operation and assets held for sale continued
The carrying amounts of assets and liabilities as at the date of sale, 21 December 2016 were:

Intangible assets
Fixed assets
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

Total assets of the disposal group

Liabilities directly associated with assets held for sale
Trade and other payables
Deferred taxation

Total liabilities of the disposal group

Total net assets of the disposal group

The following assets and liabilities were reclassified as held for sale in relation to the discontinued operation as at 30 April 2016.

Intangible assets
Impairment
Trade and other receivables
Invoice receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

Total assets of the disposal group

Liabilities directly associated with assets held for sale
Trade and other payables
Deferred taxation

Total liabilities of the disposal group

Total net assets of the disposal group

 As at 
21 December 
2016 
 £'000 

 3,316 
 29 
 3,864 
 20,600 

 27,809 

 424 
 660 

 1,084 

 26,725 

 As at
30 April  
2016 
 £'000 

 10,280 
 (6,810)
 183 
 7,329 
 17,755 

 28,737 

 352 
 660 

 1,012 

 27,725 

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017FINANCIAL STATEMENTS9. Finance income and costs 

Finance income
Interest income on short-term deposits
Foreign exchange gains

Total finance income

Finance costs
Interest expense and bank charges
Foreign exchange losses

Total finance cost

Net finance income

10. Taxation
Income tax comprises the following: 

Current tax

Research and development tax credits

Deferred tax

Origination and reversal of temporary differences

Total income tax credit for tax year

Tax credit reconciliation
Loss before tax
Loss before tax multiplied by the rate of corporation tax in the UK 19% (2016: 20%)
Items not deductible for tax purposes
Gains in Guernsey subject to 0% corporation tax
Research and development tax credits
Origination and reversal of temporary differences
Tax losses for which no deferred income tax asset was recognised

Total income tax credit

65

Year ended
30 April  
2017
£’000

Year ended
30 April  
2016
(restated)
£’000

 4 
6,445

6,449

 (642)
(3,511)

(4,153)

2,296

 83 
1,304

1,387

–
(1,020)

(1,020)

367

Year ended

30 April  
2017
£’000

Year ended
30 April  
2016
£’000

 (284)

 (369)

(149)

(433)

 (336)

 (705)

(12,924)
(2,456)
237
–
 (284)
(149)
2,219

(433)

(18,504)
(3,701)
 2,291 
 (322)
 (369)
 (336)
1,732

 (705)

The standard rate of Corporation Tax in the UK changed from 20% to 19% with effect from 1 April 2017. Further reductions to the tax rate have 
been announced which will reduce the rate to 17% by 1 April 2020. These changes are expected to be enacted separately each year. 

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements66

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued

10. Taxation continued
Deferred tax
Deferred tax movement for the year:

As at 1 May 2016
Charged to income statement
Exchange difference

As at 30 April 2017

As at 1 May 2015
Charged to income statement
Assets held for sale

As at 30 April 2016

Deferred tax 
liability
£’000

 (3,010)
452
(72)

 (2,630)

Deferred tax 
liability
£’000

 (4,006)
 336 
 660 

 (3,010)

Deferred income tax assets are recognised for tax losses carried forward to the extent that the realisation of the related tax benefit through 
future taxable profits is considered more likely than not. The Group has unrecognised deferred tax assets of £12.9 million (2016: £11.4 million)  
in respect of losses that can be carried forward against future taxable income for the period between one-year and an indefinite period of time.

No deferred tax related to components of Other Comprehensive Income.

11. Loss per share
Basic loss per share is calculated by dividing the loss attributable to the ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary 
shares in issue during the year.

Year ended
30 April 2017

Year ended
30 April 2016

Loss
£’000

Shares
‘000

Loss 
per share
p

Loss
£’000

Shares
‘000

Loss 
per share
p

Basic and diluted

(12,491)

126,069

(9.91)

(27,238)

123,715

 (22.02)

EPS may be subject to future dilution as a result of the issue of shares pursuant to the LTIP Securities and SAYE scheme.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
67

Goodwill
£’000

Customer
relationships
£’000

IT platform
£’000

Software
£’000

Software
development 
under 
construction
£’000

Total
£’000

101,668
 – 
 – 
 381 

 11,103 
 – 
 – 
 13 

102,049

 11,116 

 6,956 
 – 
 (109)
 341 

 7,188 

 2,414 
 896 
 – 
384

1,908
 503 
 (1,760)
 9 

 – 
 3,570 
 – 
 – 

 121,635 
 4,073 
 (1,869)
 744 

 660 

 3,570 

124,583

 1,020 
 982 
 (1,599)
27

 430 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 

 4,865 
 2,451 
 (1,599)
414

 6,131 

 1,431 
 573 
 – 
 3 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 

 2,007 

 3,694 

12. Intangible assets
As at 30 April 2017

Cost
Balance at 1 May 2016
Additions
Disposals
Exchange differences

Balance at 30 April 2017

Accumulated amortisation

Balance at 1 May 2016
Amortisation charge
Disposals
Exchange differences

Balance at 30 April 2017

Net asset value as at 30 April 2016
Net asset value as at 30 April 2017

101,668
102,049

 9,672 
 9,109 

 4,542 
 3,494 

888
 230 

 – 
 3,570 

 116,770 
118,452

As at 30 April 2016

(re-presented)

Cost
Balance at 1 May 2015
Reclassified as held for sale
Additions
Disposals
Exchange differences

Balance at 30 April 2016

Accumulated amortisation

Balance at 1 May 2015
Amortisation charge
Impairment charge
Impairment reclassified as held for sale
Exchange differences

Balance at 30 April 2016

Net asset value as at 30 April 2015
Net asset value as at 30 April 2016

Goodwill
£’000

Customer
relationships
£’000

IT platform
£’000

Software
£’000

Software
development 
under 
construction
£’000

 108,338 
 (6,810)
 – 
 – 
 140 

101,668

 – 
 – 
 6,810 
 (6,810)
 – 

 11,098 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 5 

 11,103 

 859 
 569 
 – 
 – 
 3 

 – 

 1,431 

 108,338 
101,668

 10,239 
 9,672 

 6,712 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 244 

 6,956 

 1,244 
 987 
 – 
 – 
 183 

 2,414 

 5,468 
 4,542 

 4,635 
(3,470)
 912 
 (131)
 (38)

1,908

 554 
 461 
 – 
 – 
 5 

 1,020 

 4,081 
888

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 

 – 
 – 

Total
£’000

 130,783 
 (10,280)
 912 
 (131)
 351 

 121,635 

 2,657 
 2,017 
 6,810 
 (6,810)
 191 

 4,865 

 128,126 
 116,770 

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements68

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued

12. Intangible assets continued
Impairment testing is carried out at cash-generating unit (CGU) level on an annual basis. The following is a summary of the goodwill allocation 
for each reporting segment:

Tungsten Network

Total goodwill

As at
30 April  
2017
£’000

As at
30 April  
2016
£’000

102,049

 101,668 

102,049

 101,668 

Tungsten Network
The Group has estimated the recoverable amount of the Tungsten Network CGU using a value-in-use model by projecting cash flows for the next 
five years together with a terminal value using a growth rate. The five-year plan used in the impairment models are based on Board approved 
budgets and management’s past experience and future expectations of performance. The cash flow projections are based on the following  
key assumptions:
 • Revenue growth from Buyers and Suppliers using the Tungsten Network, including Tungsten Workflow and Tungsten Analytics at a 
 • Pre-tax discount rate of 11.75% (2016: 14.4%), being based on the Group’s weighted average cost of capital (WACC)
 • Growth rate used in the annuity of 2.0% (2016: 2.0%). This does not exceed the long-term expected economic average growth of the territories 

compound annual growth rate of 15%

in which the Group operates in.

Based on the above assumptions, Tungsten Network exceeded the carrying value of the CGU by £69.7 million (2016: £21.3 million). The recoverable 
amount of the Tungsten Network CGU was particularly sensitive to changes in the compound annual revenue growth rate. Assuming that there  
is a reduction in the compound annual growth rate to 9.0% the recoverable amount would equal the carrying value of the CGU.

13. Property, plant and equipment
As at 30 April 2017

Cost
Balance at 1 May 2016
Additions
Disposals
Exchange differences

Balance at 30 April 2017

Accumulated depreciation

Balance at 1 May 2016
Charge for the year
Disposals
Exchange differences

Balance at 30 April 2017

Net book value

At 30 April 2016
At 30 April 2017

Leasehold
improvements
£’000

Fixtures
and fittings
£’000

Computer
equipment
£’000

 2,366 
 8 
 (552)
 1 

 1,823 

 768 
 156 
 (552)
 1 

 373 

 563 
 46 
 (398)
 9 

 220 

 429 
 35 
 (396)
 2 

 70 

 2,532 
 212 
 (2,444)
24

324

 2,340 
 159 
 (2,442)
 11 

 68 

Total
£’000

 5,461 
 266 
 (3,394)
34

2,367

 3,537 
 350 
 (3,390)
 14 

 511 

1,598
1,450

134
150

192
256

1,924
1,856

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017FINANCIAL STATEMENTSLeasehold
improvements
£’000

Fixtures
and fittings
£’000

Computer
equipment
£’000

 2,086 
 124 
(9) 
 331 

 2,532 

 1,762 
 280 
–
 298 

 2,340 

 2,384 
 18 

–              
(36) 

 2,366 

 568 
 188 
–
 12 

 768 

1,816
1,598

 383 
 113 
(25) 
 92 

 563 

 312 
 35 
–
 82 

 429 

71
134

69

Total
£’000

 4,853 
 255 
(34) 
 387 

 5,461 

 2,642 
 503 
–
 392 

 3,537 

324
192

2,211
1,924

As at
30 April  
2017
£’000

 469 

 469 

As at
30 April  
2017
£’000

6,185
 (1,192)
 1,492 
 348 
503
1,454

8,790

As at
30 April  
2016
£’000

539

539

As at
30 April  
2016
£’000

7,522
 (1,454)
 1,402 
 – 
142
1,114

8,726

13. Property, plant and equipment continued
As at 30 April 2016

Cost

Balance at 1 May 2015
Additions
Disposals
Exchange differences

Balance at 30 April 2016

Accumulated depreciation

Balance at 1 May 2015
Charge for the year
Disposals
Exchange differences

Balance at 30 April 2016

Net book value

At 30 April 2015
At 30 April 2016

14. Trade and other receivables

Non-current assets

Loans to employees under EMSS scheme

Trade and other receivables

Current assets

Trade receivables
Less: impairment loss provision
Prepayments
VAT receivables
Accrued income
Other receivables

Trade and other receivables

15. Invoice receivables
The invoice receivables represent outstanding Early Payment invoices that were financed by the Group on a transitional basis prior to the 
implementation of additional funding arrangements with our partners.

Tungsten purchases invoices from approved suppliers on Tungsten Network, which are then sold to a funding partner. In the reporting period 
these funding partners were Tungsten Network Finance (self-funded), Insight Investment and Tungsten Bank.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements70

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued

16. Cash and cash equivalents

Cash at bank

Cash and cash equivalents

17. Share capital and share premium

Issued and fully paid

Balance as at 1 May 2015
Shares issued during the year
Balance as at 30 April 2016

Shares issued during the year

Balance as at 30 April 2017

18. Trade and other payables

Trade payables
Social security and other taxes
Accrued expenses
Provision for lease obligations
Other payables

Trade and other payables

19. Deferred income

As at 1 May 2016
Invoiced during the year
Released to revenue
Impairment provision
Exchange differences

As at 30 April 2017

As at 1 May 2015
Invoiced during the year
Released to revenue
Impairment provision
Exchange differences

As at 30 April 2016

As at
30 April  
2017
£’000

 17,498 

17,498

As at
30 April  
2016
£’000

 9,268 

 9,268 

Ordinary 
shares
Number

Nominal  
value

 103,529,412 
 22,539,985 
 126,069,397 

£0.004385
£0.004392
£0.004386

Share 
capital
£’000

 454 
 99 
 553 

Share 
premium
£’000

 171,875 
 16,919 
 188,794 

 – 

 126,069,397 

 – 

–

 – 

 – 

 553 

 188,794 

As at
30 April  
2017
£’000

2,548
351
6,592
 – 
38

9,529

As at
30 April  
2016
£’000

 2,535 
 618 
 4,188 
 42 
 107 

 7,490 

Total
£’000

 8,318 
 30,770 
 (31,251)
 (412)
 455 

 7,880 

Total
£’000

 8,633 
 26,230 
 (26,083)
 (468)
 6 

 8,318 

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017FINANCIAL STATEMENTS71

20. Share-based payment
In May 2012, the Group established Founder Securities Scheme. The Founder Securities are designed to encourage the subscribers to use their 
best efforts to grow the company within five to ten years. The Founder Securities were treated as equity settled share-based payments and are 
considered to have vested at time of grant as there are no service conditions attaching to them.

In August 2014, the Group established an Employee Matched Share Scheme (EMSS) and a Save As You Earn (SAYE) share option scheme for the 
employees of the Company.

In December 2014, the Group established the Tungsten Corporation PLC UK Share Option Scheme (UK Scheme) and the Tungsten Corporation 
US Stock Option Plan (US Plan). 

In July 2015, the UK Scheme was amended to bring the vesting terms in line with the US plan and to allow for the grant of Share Appreciation 
Rights (SAR) to employees based outside of the UK and US, notably in Malaysia and continental Europe.

Employee Matched Share Scheme
The Employee Matched Share Scheme is part of Tungsten’s plans to encourage share ownership among its employees, and incentivise and align 
their interests with existing shareholders. 

The Tungsten Board formally approved these options on 7 August 2014 and the options were granted on 8 August 2014 at the option price of 
336p per share. The option is exercisable at any time between 8 February 2019 and 8 August 2019.

As part of the scheme’s terms, any participating employee is required to acquire Tungsten shares in the market at an arm’s length price and 
hold them for the same period as the life of the option. 

Save As You Earn scheme
The Save As You Earn scheme was offered to eligible employees participating in the scheme who have committed to contribute between £5 and 
£500 per month over a three-year period. At the end of that contracted period, their accumulated funds can then be withdrawn from the scheme 
as cash or used to exercise the options at the contracted price.

The Tungsten Board formally approved these options on 4 August 2014 at an exercise price of £2.25. The SAYE scheme comprises equity-settled 
share-based payment transactions with options vesting on the third anniversary of the grant date.

UK Scheme and US Plan
All outstanding options issued under the UK Scheme and US Plan are subject to the same terms:
 • Options to be granted at an option price equal to fair market value at grant
 • The options vest over 3-4 years, on each anniversary of the date of grant
 • The options have a 10 year term
 • On an exit event involving a sale or change of control of Tungsten Corporation PLC, any unvested options are accelerated and can be 

exercised in full

SARs are “phantom options”, whereby the beneficiary is issued with a certificate that allows them to call on the Company to pay them the 
increase in price between the option issue price and the market price, thereby representing the same economic benefit as options issued under 
the UK Scheme and US Plan, but without involving the issue of shares. Where applicable, the SARs are subject to the same rules as options 
issued under the UK Scheme and US Plan.

The following option grants have been made under the UK Scheme, US Plan and SARs:

Grant date

21 January 2015
23 July 2015
07 January 2016
15 April 2016
26 July 2016
19 September 2016
16 December 2016

Number of shares granted

Vesting period

Issue price (p)

UK Scheme

US Plan

4 years
4 years
4 years
4 years
4 years
3-4 years
4 years

237.75
67.50
39.00
58.00
43.45
62.70
53.45

515,000
735,150
–
–
647,201
995,000
125,000

440,000
270,850
100,000
300,000
466,693
1,510,000
–

SARs

–
58,000
–
–
72,169
–
–

Total

955,000
1,064,000
100,000
300,000
1,186,063
2,505,000
125,000

3,017,351

3,087,543

130,169

6,235,063

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements72

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued

20. Share-based payment continued
UK Scheme and US Plan continued
The fair value of the outstanding options, EMSS and SAYE awards were determined using a Black-Scholes option pricing model using the 
following assumptions:

Risk-free interest rate
Expected dividend yield
Expected volatility
Vesting period
Market value of underlying shares

Employee 
Matched Share  
Scheme

Save As You 
Earn

2.15%
 –
43.3%
4.5 years
£0.61

2.15%
–
43.3%
3 years
£0.61

 UK Scheme 

 US Plan 

 SARs 

1.28%-1.54%
–
75.15%-76.39%
4 years

1.28%-1.54%
–
75.15%-76.39%
3-4 years

1.28%-1.54%
–
75.15%-76.39%
4 years

  Share price on the date of grant  

The risk-free interest rate was based on the UK Gilt rates on date of grant of each of the share schemes. No dividends were expected.  
The expected equity volatility for the EMSS and SAYE schemes and other employee share options has been based on the historic volatility  
data since the Company’s admission to AIM in October 2013.

A share-based payment expense of £0.4 million has been recognised in the consolidated income statement for the year ended 30 April 2017  
(30 April 2016: £0.5 million), which comprises equity-settled and cash-settled share-based payment. The table below sets out the movement  
in shares granted under the Company share schemes:

Number

As at 1 May 2015

Granted during the year
Lapsed during the year

As at 30 April 2016

Granted during the year
Lapsed during the year

As at 30 April 2017

Founder 
Securities

Employee 
Matched 
Shares

Save As 
You Earn 
Shares

 UK Scheme 

 US Plan 

 SARs 

 Total 

 3,760,000 
 –   
 –   

 420,958 
 –   
 (169,471)

 257,344 
 –   
 (191,424)

 10,515 
 750,150 
 (114,790)

 440,000 
 370,850 
 (62,100)

 –   
 58,000 
 (2,000)

 4,888,817 
 1,179,000 
 (539,785)

 3,760,000 

 251,487 

 65,920 

 645,875 

 748,750 

 56,000 

 5,528,032 

 –   
 –   

 –   
 (62,047)

 –   
 (34,320)

 1,767,201 
 (171,102)

 2,276,693 
 (17,793)

 72,169 
 –   

 4,116,063 
 (285,262)

 3,760,000 

 189,440 

 31,600 

 2,241,974 

 3,007,650 

 128,169 

 9,358,833

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017FINANCIAL STATEMENTS73

21. Financial instruments, risk management and exposure
The Group’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks, predominantly credit, liquidity and foreign currency risk. Risk management  
is carried out by the Board of Directors. The Group uses financial instruments to provide flexibility regarding its working capital requirements 
and to enable it to manage specific financial risks to which it is exposed.

Transactions are only undertaken if they relate to actual underlying exposures and hence cannot be viewed as speculative.

(a) Credit risk
Cash and cash equivalents are held with reputable financial institutions.

The fair value of trade and other receivables and invoice receivables (financial assets) approximates their carrying value. As at 30 April 2017, 
total trade and other receivables and invoice receivables of £2.7 million (2016: £4.5 million) were past due but not impaired. With respect to 
these receivables that are neither impaired nor past due, there are no indications as at the reporting date that the counter-parties will not meet 
their payment obligations. 

The overdue analysis of these receivables is as follows:

Current and not impaired

Less than 1 month overdue
Between 2-3 months overdue
Over 3 months overdue

Total past due but not impaired

Individually determined to be impaired

Total trade and other receivables

Less impairment loss provision

Total trade and other receivables

The following represents the Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk related to uncollateralised balances:

Cash and cash equivalents
Trade and other receivables
Invoice receivables

Total

Below credit ratings were obtained from Moody’s Corporate’s website

Cash and cash equivalents

AAA
AA
A
B

Total

As at
30 April  
2017
£’000

 6,078 

 752 
 590 
1,370

2,712

 1,192 

As at
30 April  
2016
£’000

 4,226 

 1,363 
 882 
 2,255 

 4,500 

 1,454 

9,982

 10,180 

 (1,192)

 (1,454)

8,790

 8,726 

As at
30 April  
2017
£’000

17,498
8,790
4,304

30,592

As at
30 April  
2017
£’000

5,000
11,870
315
313 

17,498

As at
30 April  
2016
£’000

 9,268 
 8,726 
–

 17,994 

As at
30 April  
2016
£’000

–
2,129 
7,011
128 

 9,268 

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements74

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued

21. Financial instruments, risk management and exposure continued
(b) Liquidity risk
Non-derivative financial assets and liabilities

As at 30 April 2017

Cash and cash equivalents
Trade and other receivables1
Invoice receivables
Trade and other payables

Net position

1  Excludes prepayments

As at 30 April 2016

Cash and cash equivalents
Trade and other receivables
Trade and other payables

Net position

Carrying
amount
£’000

17,498
7,298
 4,304 
(9,529)

Total 
contractual
cash flows
£’000

17,498
7,298
 4,304 
(9,529)

Less than
3 months
£’000

17,498
6,338
 4,304 
(9,529)

19,571

19,571

18,611

Carrying
amount
£’000

 9,268 
 7,324 
 (7,490)

 9,102 

Total 
contractual
cash flows
£’000

 9,268 
 7,324 
 (7,490)

 9,102 

Less than
3 months
£’000

 9,268 
 5,481 
 (7,490)

 7,259 

3 to 12
months
£’000

 – 
 960 
 – 
 – 

 960 

3 to 12
months
£’000

 – 
 1,843 
 – 

 1,843 

1 to 5
years
£’000

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 

1 to 5
years
£’000

 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 

The Group aims to mitigate liquidity risk by carefully selecting acquisitions and creditors. This is managed via authorisation limits operating up 
to Group Board level. Cash flow forecasting is performed in the operating entities of the Group and aggregated by Group finance. Group finance 
monitors rolling forecasts of the Group’s liquidity requirements to ensure it has sufficient cash to meet operational needs.

(c) Foreign currency risk
The Group operates in a number of territories in the world but principally in the US and Europe and is exposed to foreign exchange risk for 
movements between the US Dollar the Euro and Sterling. The Group’s subsidiaries conduct the majority of their business in their respective 
functional currencies; therefore there is limited transaction risk. Foreign exchange risk arises mainly from net investments in foreign operations. 
This exposure is reduced by funding the investments as far as possible with borrowings in the same currency. The Group applies hedge 
accounting principles to net investments in foreign operations and the related borrowings.

(d) Capital risk management
The aim of the Group is to maintain sufficient funds to enable it to meet working capital requirements, make suitable investments and 
incremental acquisitions while minimising recourse to external funders and/or shareholders. Capital managed by the Group at 30 April 2017 
consists of cash and cash equivalents and equity attributable to equity holders of the parent. The capital structure is reviewed by management 
through regular internal financial reporting and forecasting.

The Group considers the following balances as a part of its capital management:

Share capital and premium
Accumulated reserves1

Total

1  Reserves include shares to be issued, merger reserve, share-based payments reserve, other reserves and accumulated net losses

In addition, the Group considers the availability of cash balances of the Group as part of its assessment of capital.

As at
30 April  
2017
£’000

As at
30 April  
2016
£’000

 189,347 
(58,040)

 189,347 
 (43,213)

131,307

 146,134 

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
22. Commitments
Operating leases
The table below sets out the future minimum lease commitments:

Less than 1 year
Between 1 and 2 years
Between 3 and 5 years
After 5 years

Total operating leases

23. Related-party transactions 
The Group entered into the following transactions with related parties in the ordinary course of business:

Purchase of services

75

As at
30 April  
2017
£’000

 1,021 
 861 
 2,484 
 4,562 

 8,928 

As at
30 April  
2016
£’000

 1,016 
 979 
 2,503 
 5,374 

 9,872 

For the  
year ended

For the  

year ended

30 April  
2017
£’000

 64 

30 April  
2016
£’000

 1,094 

Canaccord Genuity Limited is corporate broker to the Group and acted as the sole book runner on the placing that took place during the year 
ended 30 April 2016. Peter Kiernan held the position of Chairman of European Investment Banking at Canaccord Genuity until June 2015 and 
subsequently became a senior adviser to the firm from which position he stepped down on 30 September 2016. As a consequence of these roles, 
Canaccord Genuity was considered a related party of the Tungsten Group until 30 September 2016. Mr. Kiernan took no part in the negotiation 
of the terms of Canaccord Genuity’s engagement or the terms of the Placing Agreement for the share placing which took place during the year 
ended 30 April 2016. During the year ended 30 April 2017, the Group paid fees for services received from Canaccord Genuity totalling £64,000 
(2016: £0.7 million).

Transactions between Group entities principally relate to intercompany financing arrangements which are eliminated on consolidation.

Key management personnel 
Key management includes Directors – Executive and Non-Executive – who are responsible for controlling and directing the activities of the 
Group. The compensation paid or payable to key management for employee services is shown below:

Short-term employee benefits
Share-based payment

Total

Year ended

30 April  
2017
£’000

 1,579 
 405 

 1,984

Year ended
30 April  
2016
£’000

 1,763 
 478 

 2,241 

For further details with respect to Directors’ remuneration, please refer to the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages on 39 to 41.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements 
76

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued

24. Subsidiary undertakings of the Group 
The full listing of subsidiary companies in the Group is shown below. 

Subsidiary

Nature of business

Tungsten Corporation Guernsey Limited
Tungsten Network Limited
Tungsten Network Inc (US Inc)
Tungsten Network Sdn Bhd
Tungsten Network GmbH
Tungsten Network (Schweiz) GmbH
Tungsten Network S.A.P.I de CV

Intermediate holding company
Electronic invoice delivery
Electronic invoice delivery
Electronic invoice delivery Shared service centre
Electronic invoice delivery
Shared services office
Electronic invoice delivery

Tungsten Network EOOD
Tungsten Network Private Limited
Image Integration Systems, Inc
Tungsten Network Finance Limited
Tungsten Purchaser UK Limited
Tungsten Account Trustee Limited
Tungsten Investment Management Limited Investment management
Tungsten Purchaser (US), Inc
Tungsten Purchaser (Canada) Ltd

Shared services office
Electronic invoice delivery
Software
Intermediate holding company
Invoice acquisition
Trustee services

Invoice acquisition
Invoice acquisition

Registered office

Country of
incorporation

Proportion  
of ordinary  
shares held by  
the Group %

Saint Peter Port
London
Atlanta, Georgia
Petaling Jaya
Hamburg

Guernsey
UK
USA
Malaysia
Germany
Gubelstrasse Switzerland
Mexico

Bosques De  
Las Lomas
Sofia
Delhi
Perrysburg
London
London
London
London
City of Wilmington
Calgary

Bulgaria
India
USA
UK
UK
UK
UK
USA
Canada

100
100
100
100
100
100
100

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017FINANCIAL STATEMENTSINDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT  
to the members of Tungsten Corporation plc

77

Report on the Parent Company Financial 
statements
Our opinion
In our opinion, Tungsten Corporation plc’s 
Parent Company financial statements  
(the “financial statements”):
 • give a true and fair view of the state  
of the Parent Company’s affairs as at  
30 April 2017 and of its cash flows for  
the year then ended;

 • have been properly prepared in 

accordance with International Financial 
Reporting Standards (“IFRSs”) as adopted 
by the European Union and as applied 
in accordance with the provisions of the 
Companies Act 2006; and

 • have been prepared in accordance  

with the requirements of the Companies 
Act 2006.

What we have audited
The financial statements, included within  
the Annual Report and Financial Statements 
(the “Annual Report”), comprise:
 • the Parent Company Balance Sheet as at 
 • the Parent Company Statement of Cash 
Flows for the year then ended;
 • the Parent Company Statement of 

30 April 2017;

Changes in Equity for the year then ended; 
and

 • the notes to the financial statements, 
which include a summary of significant 
accounting policies and other  
explanatory information.

Certain required disclosures have been 
presented elsewhere in the Annual Report, 
rather than in the notes to the financial 
statements. These are cross-referenced  
from the financial statements and are 
identified as audited.

The financial reporting framework that 
has been applied in the preparation of the 
financial statements is IFRSs as adopted by 
the European Union, and applicable law, and 
as applied in accordance with the provisions 
of the Companies Act 2006.

In applying the financial reporting framework, 
the Directors have made a number of 
subjective judgements, for example in respect 
of significant accounting estimates. In making 
such estimates, they have made assumptions 
and considered future events.

Directors’ remuneration
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are 
required to report to you if, in our opinion, 
certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration 
specified by law are not made. We have 
no exceptions to report arising from this 
responsibility.

Responsibilities for the financial statements 
and the audit
Our responsibilities and those of the 
Directors
As explained more fully in the Statement of 
Directors’ Responsibilities on page 44, the 
Directors are responsible for the preparation 
of the financial statements and for being 
satisfied that they give a true and fair view.

Our responsibility is to audit and express 
an opinion on the financial statements 
in accordance with applicable law and 
International Standards on Auditing (UK 
and Ireland) (“ISAs (UK & Ireland)”). Those 
standards require us to comply with the 
Auditing Practices Board’s Ethical Standards 
for Auditors.

This report, including the opinions, has 
been prepared for and only for the Parent 
Company’s members as a body in accordance 
with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies 
Act 2006 and for no other purpose. We do not, 
in giving these opinions, accept or assume 
responsibility for any other purpose or to any 
other person to whom this report is shown 
or into whose hands it may come save where 
expressly agreed by our prior consent in 
writing.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the 
Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken 
in the course of the audit:
 • the information given in the Strategic 
Report and the Directors’ Report for 
the financial year for which the financial 
statements are prepared is consistent with 
the financial statements; and

 • the Strategic Report and the Directors’ 

Report have been prepared in accordance 
with applicable legal requirements.

In addition, in light of the knowledge and 
understanding of the Parent Company and 
its environment obtained in the course of the 
audit, we are required to report if we have 
identified any material misstatements in the 
Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report. 
We have nothing to report in this respect.

Other matters on which we are required to 
report by exception
Adequacy of accounting records and 
information and explanations received
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are 
required to report to you if, in our opinion:
 • we have not received all the information 
and explanations we require for our 
audit; or
 • adequate accounting records have not 
been kept by the Parent Company, or 
returns adequate for our audit have not 
been received from branches not visited 
by us; or

 • the financial statements are not in 

agreement with the accounting records 
and returns.

We have no exceptions to report arising from 
this responsibility.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements78

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT 
to the members of Tungsten Corporation plc continued

What an audit of financial  
statements involves
We conducted our audit in accordance 
with ISAs (UK & Ireland). An audit involves 
obtaining evidence about the amounts  
and disclosures in the financial statements 
sufficient to give reasonable assurance  
that the financial statements are free  
from material misstatement, whether  
caused by fraud or error. This includes  
an assessment of: 
 • whether the accounting policies are 
appropriate to the Parent Company’s 
circumstances and have been consistently 
applied and adequately disclosed; 
 • the reasonableness of significant 
accounting estimates made by the 
Directors; and 

 • the overall presentation of the  

financial statements. 

In addition, we read all the financial and 
non-financial information in the Annual 
Report to identify material inconsistencies 
with the audited financial statements and to 
identify any information that is apparently 
materially incorrect based on, or materially 
inconsistent with, the knowledge acquired by 
us in the course of performing the audit. If 
we become aware of any apparent material 
misstatements or inconsistencies we consider 
the implications for our report. With respect 
to the Strategic Report and Directors’ Report, 
we consider whether those reports include 
the disclosures required by applicable  
legal requirements.

Other matter
We have reported separately on the Group 
financial statements of Tungsten Corporation 
plc for the year ended 30 April 2017.

We primarily focus our work in these areas 
by assessing the Directors’ judgements 
against available evidence, forming our own 
judgements, and evaluating the disclosures  
in the financial statements.

We test and examine information, using 
sampling and other auditing techniques, to 
the extent we consider necessary to provide a 
reasonable basis for us to draw conclusions. 
We obtain audit evidence through testing 
the effectiveness of controls, substantive 
procedures or a combination of both. 

Brian Henderson (Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of  
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Accountants and Statutory 
Auditors
London

24 July 2017

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017FINANCIAL STATEMENTSINDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT 

to the members of Tungsten Corporation plc continued

PARENT COMPANY BALANCE SHEET

Registered number: 07934335

Fixed assets

Investments in subsidiaries
Property, plant and equipment
Intangible assets
Trade and other receivables

Total non-current assets

Current assets

Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Total assets

Capital and reserves attributable to the equity shareholders

Share capital
Share premium
Shares to be issued
Other reserve
Share-based payment reserve
Accumulated losses

Total equity

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Total current liabilities

Total equity and liabilities

79

As at
30 April 
2017
£'000

As at 
30 April 
2016
£'000

Note

5
6

7

7

 162,040 
 1,490 
 601 
 482 

 189,756 
 1,628 
–   
 538 

 164,613 

 191,922 

 62,758 
 12,613 

 75,371 

 41,932 
 195 

 42,127 

 239,984 

 234,049 

 553 
 188,794 
 3,760 
(5,450) 
 774 
(33,141) 

 553 
 188,794 
 3,760 
(5,453) 
 379 
(30,075) 

 155,290 

 157,958 

8

 84,694 

 84,694 

 76,091 

 76,091 

 239,984 

 234,049

The notes on pages 82 to 85 are an integral part of these financial statements.

The financial statements on pages 79 to 85 were authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 24 July 2017 and were signed on its behalf by:

Richard Hurwitz 
Chief Executive Officer 

  David Williams
  Chief Financial Officer

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements80

PARENT COMPANY STATEMENT  
OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

Year ended 30 April 2017

Balance as at 1 May 2016
Loss for the year
Movement for the year
Currency translation differences

Share 
capital
£'000

 553 
–
–
–

Share 
premium
£'000

Shares 
to be issued
£'000

Share-based 
payment 
reserve
£'000

 188,794 
–
–
–

 3,760 
–
–
–

Other 
reserves
£'000

Accumulated 
losses
£'000

 (5,453)
–
–
 3 

 (30,075)
 (3,066)
–
–

Total 
equity
£'000

 157,958 
 (3,066)
 395 
 3 

 (5,450)

 (33,141)

 155,290 

 379 
–
 395 
–

 774 

Balance as at 30 April 2017

 553 

 188,794 

 3,760 

Year ended 30 April 2016

Balance as at 1 May 2015
Loss for the year 
Shares issued during the year
Movement for the year
Currency translation differences

Balance as at 30 April 2016

Share 
capital
£'000

 454 
–
 99 
–
–

 553 

Share 
premium
£'000

Shares 
to be issued
£'000

Share-based 
payment 
reserve
£'000

 171,875 
–
 16,919 
–
–

 188,794 

 3,760 
–
–
–
–

 3,760 

 197 
–
–
 182 
–

 379 

Other 
reserves
£'000

Accumulated 
losses
£'000

 (5,450)
–
–
–
 (3)

 (15,788)
 (14,287)
–
–
–

Total 
equity
£'000

 155,048 
 (14,287)
 17,018 
 182 
 (3)

 (5,453)

 (30,075)

 157,958

The notes on pages 82 to 85 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017FINANCIAL STATEMENTSPARENT COMPANY STATEMENT  
OF CASH FLOWS

Cash flows from operating activities

Loss before taxation
Adjustments for:
Depreciation and amortisation
Share-based payment expense
Impairment
Finance income
Finance costs
Loss on disposal of business unit
Cash used in operations

Changes in working capital:

Increase in trade and other receivables
Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables
Net interest (paid)/received

Net cash outflows from operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities

Capitalisation of software development costs
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
Net proceeds from disposal of a subsidiary
Investment in subsidiary
Gain on disposals

Net cash inflow/(outflow) from investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities

Proceeds of share issue net of expenses
Bank charges associated with loan facility

Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing activities

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at start of the period
Exchange adjustments

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year

The notes on pages 82 to 85 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

81

Year ended
30 April 
2017
£'000

Year ended
30 April 
2016
£'000

Note

6
4
5

(3,066) 

(14,287) 

 138 
 405 
 –   
(1) 
 1,485 
 230 
(809) 

 160 
 476 
 11,640 
(41) 
 1,291 
 –   
(761) 

(20,770) 
 7,368 
(0) 

(1,159) 
(15,590) 
52 

(14,211) 

(17,458) 

(601) 
(1) 
 28,594 
(1,150) 
 –   

 26,842 

 –   
(53) 
 –   
 –   
 1 

(52) 

 –   
(210) 

(210) 

 16,724 
 –   

 16,724 

 12,421 
 195 
(3) 

 12,613 

(786) 
 984 
(3) 

 195

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements82

NOTES TO THE PARENT COMPANY  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. General information
Tungsten Corporation plc (the Company) and its subsidiaries (together, the Group) is a global e-invoicing network that offers supply chain 
financing and spend analytics. The Company is a public limited company, which is incorporated and domiciled in the UK. The address of its 
registered office is Pountney Hill House, 6 Laurence Pountney Hill, London EC4R 0BL, UK.

2. Accounting policies
Basis of preparation
The Company financial statements of Tungsten Corporation plc have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards as adopted by the European Union (IFRSs as adopted by the EU), the Companies Act 2006 that applies to companies reporting under 
IFRS, and IFRS Interpretations Committee (IFRS IC).

Going concern
The Group going concern assessment is based on forecasts and projections of anticipated trading performance. The assumptions applied are 
subjective and management applies judgement in estimating the probability, timing and value of underlying cash flows.

Critical accounting estimates and judgements
Critical accounting estimates and judgements are set out in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements.

Significant accounting policies 
Share-based payments
The Company issues equity-settled and cash-settled share-based awards to certain employees. The fair value of share-based awards is 
determined based on the Black-Scholes model at the date of grant and expensed based on the Group’s estimate of the shares that will 
eventually vest, on a straight-line basis over the vesting period with a corresponding increase in equity. At each balance sheet date, the Group 
revises its estimates of the number of options that are expected to vest based on service and other non-market performance conditions. The 
amount expensed is adjusted over the vesting period for changes in the estimate of the number of shares that will eventually vest, save for 
changes resulting from any market-related performance conditions.

Equity-settled share-based awards are recognised as an expense in profit or loss with a corresponding credit to share option reserve. Cash-
settled share-based awards are recognised as an expense in profit or loss with a corresponding credit to liabilities.

Further details on the share-based payments can be found in Note 20 to the consolidated financial statements of this Annual Report and financial 
statements.

Tangible assets
Tangible assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is charged to profit or loss on a straight-line basis of the 
estimated useful lives of each item of tangible asset. Depreciation commences when an asset is brought into use over the following estimated 
useful lives:
 • Leasehold improvement: depreciated over the term of lease
 • Computer equipment: 50% on cost

Trade and other receivables
Trade and other debtors are stated initially at fair value and subsequently at their amortised cost less impairment losses.

Trade and other payables
Trade and other payables are initially stated at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost.

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents includes cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term highly liquid investments with original 
maturities of three months or less and bank overdrafts.

Employee benefits defined contribution plans
The Company pays contributions to publicly or privately administered pension plans. The Company has no further payment obligations once the 
contributions have been paid. Contributions are recognised in the income statement as an employee benefit expense in the period when they are 
due. Prepaid contributions are recognised as an asset to the extent that a cash refund or a reduction in the future payments is available.

Share capital
Ordinary shares are classified as equity.

Investments in subsidiary undertakings
Investments in subsidiary undertakings are stated at cost less provisions for impairment. Investments are reviewed for impairment if there are 
indicators that the carrying value may not be recoverable.

Foreign currency translation
The accounting policy for foreign currency translation is the same as that for the Group and is set out on pages 53 and 54.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017FINANCIAL STATEMENTS83

3. Profit for the year
As permitted by the exemption in Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, the profit and loss account of the Company is not presented  
as part of these financial statements. The loss attributable to shareholders dealt with in the financial statements of the Company was £3.1m 
(2016: £14.3m).

4. Employee benefit expenses

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs
Share-based payments

Total employee benefit expenses

Number of employees

The average number of people (including Executive Directors) employed:
Corporate

Total average headcount

Year ended 
30 April 
2017 
£’000

Year ended 
30 April 
2016 
£’000

 2,501 
 284 
 178 
 405 

 3,368 

 2,130 
 230 
 113 
 476 

 2,949

Year ended 
30 April 
2017 

Year ended 
30 April 
2016 

19

19

17

17

Refer to Note 23 in the consolidated financial statements for details of remuneration in respect of key management.

Share-based payments expense include expenses relating to cash-settled share options. Cash-settled share-based awards are recognised as an 
expense in profit or loss with a corresponding credit to liabilities (see Note 2).

5. Investments in subsidiaries

Balance as at 1 May
Additions
Impairment
Disposal

Balance as at 30 April

Year ended 
30 April 
2017 
£’000

 189,756 
 1,150 
 –   
(28,866) 

Year ended 
30 April 
2016 
£’000

 199,096 
 2,300 
(11,640) 
 –   

 162,040 

 189,756

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements84

NOTES TO THE PARENT COMPANY  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued

5. Investments in subsidiaries continued
The Company has the following subsidiaries:

Subsidiary
Tungsten Corporation Guernsey Limited
Tungsten Network Limited
Tungsten Network Inc (US Inc)
Tungsten Network Sdn Bhd

Nature of business
Intermediate holding company
Electronic invoice delivery
Electronic invoice delivery
Electronic invoice delivery 
Shared service centre
Electronic invoice delivery
Shared services office
Electronic invoice delivery
Shared services office
Electronic invoice delivery
Software
Intermediate holding company
Invoice acquisition
Trustee services

Tungsten Network GmbH
Tungsten Network (Schweiz) GmbH
Tungsten Network S.A.P.I de CV
Tungsten Network EOOD
Tungsten Network Private Limited
Image Integration Systems, Inc
Tungsten Network Finance Limited
Tungsten Purchaser UK Limited
Tungsten Account Trustee Limited
Tungsten Investment Management Limited Investment management
Tungsten Purchaser (US), Inc
Tungsten Purchaser (Canada) Ltd

Invoice acquisition
Invoice acquisition

Registered office
Saint Peter Port
London
Atlanta, Georgia

Country of 
incorporation
Guernsey
UK
USA

Petaling Jaya
Hamburg

Malaysia
Germany
Gubelstrasse Switzerland
Mexico
Bulgaria
India
USA
UK
UK
UK
UK
USA
Canada

Bosques De Las Lomas
Sofia
Delhi
Perryburg
London
London
London
London
City of Wilmington
Calgary

Proportion 
of ordinary 
shares held by 
the Company
%
100
100
100

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

Direct
or indirect
owned
Direct
Direct
Indirect

Indirect
Indirect
Indirect
Indirect
Indirect
Indirect
Indirect
Direct
Indirect
Indirect
Indirect
Indirect
Indirect

The Directors have reviewed the carrying value of the investments and there is no impairment required. There had been a capital injection to 
Tungsten Bank during the year totalling £1.15m. Tungsten Bank was then disposed of on 21 December 2016. 

6. Property, plant and equipment

Leasehold 
improvements
£’000

Fixtures 
and fittings
£’000

Computer 
equipment
£’000

Cost

Balance at 1 May 2016
Additions
Disposals

Balance at 30 April 2017

Accumulated depreciation

Balance at 1 May 2016
Charge for the year
Disposals

At 30 April 2017

Net book value
At 30 April 2017

At 30 April 2016

 1,800 
–
–

 1,800 

 240 
 124 
–

 364 

 1,436 
 1,560 

 91 
 1 
(2) 

 90 

 24 
 13 
(1) 

 36 

 54 
 67 

Total
£’000

 1,934 
 1 
(44) 

 1,891 

 306 
 138 
(43) 

 401 

 43 
–
(42) 

 1 

 42 
 1 
(42) 

 1 

 0 
 1 

 1,490 
 1,628 

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017FINANCIAL STATEMENTS7. Trade and other receivables

Non-current assets

Loans to employees under EMSS scheme

Trade and other receivables

Current assets

Amounts owed by Group undertakings
VAT
Other receivables
Invoices receivable
Prepayments and accrued income

Trade and other receivables

85

As at 
30 April 
2016
£’000

538

538

As at 
30 April 
2016
£’000

 41,422 
 81 
 83 
 -   
 346 

 41,932

As at 
30 April 
2017
£’000

482

482

As at 
30 April 
2017
£’000

 61,363 
 140 
 874 
 113 
 268 

 62,758 

The amounts owed by Group undertakings are due from Tungsten Network Limited and Tungsten Network Finance Limited as at 30 April 2017. 
These are non-interest bearing and are repayable on demand. 

8. Trade and other payables

Trade payables and other payables
Taxation and social security
Accrued expenses and deferred income
Amounts owed to Group undertakings

Trade and other payables

As at 
30 April 
2017
£’000

 84 
 104 
 2,191 
 82,315 

 84,694 

As at 
30 April 
2016
£’000

 312 
 159 
 1,861 
 73,759 

 76,091

The amounts owed to Group undertakings are due to Tungsten Corporation Guernsey and Tungsten Network Inc as at 30 April 2017. These are 
non-interest bearing and are repayable on demand.

9. Commitments
Operating leases
The table below sets out the future minimum lease commitments:

Less than 1 year
Between 1 and 2 years
Between 3 and 5 years
After 5 years

Total commitments

As at 
30 April 
2017
£’000
 650 
 650 
 1,950 
 4,279 

 7,529 

As at 
30 April 
2016
£’000
 745 
 723 
 1,968 
 4,929 

 8,365

10. Related-party transactions
Key management personnel
Key management includes Directors – Executive and Non-Executive. There were no key management personnel in the Company apart  
from the Directors. The compensation paid or payable to key management for employee services is set out in Note 23 to the consolidated 
financial statements.

TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements86

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

Nominated adviser
Panmure Gordon & Co
1 New Change 
London
EC4 9AF
UK

Broker
Canaccord Genuity Limited
88 Wood Street
London
EC2V 7QR
UK

Registrar
Equiniti
Aspect House
Spencer Road
Lancing
West Sussex
BN99 6DA
UK

0371 384 2030*
Overseas helpline +44 (0)121 415 7047

*  Lines open 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Registered office
Tungsten Corporation plc
Pountney Hill House
6 Laurence Pountney Hill
London
EC4R 0BL
UK

Tungsten Corporation plc is a public limited company incorporated and domiciled in the UK, with registered number 07934335.

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TUNGSTEN CORPORATION PLC // ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2017 Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsCONNECTING A WORLDWIDE  
BUYER-SUPPLIER COMMUNITY

Tungsten Corporation plc
Pountney Hill House
6 Laurence Pountney Hill
London EC4R 0BL
UK

E:  info@tungsten-network.com
T:  +44 20 7280 7807
www.tungsten-network.com